Biomedical subjects

M L Stitzer

Publications and source records attributed to M L Stitzer.

168 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed1978

Effects of d-amphetamine on speaking in isolated humans.

The effects of oral d-amphetamine, 5--20 mg were studied in isolated humans who produced speech monologues during experimental sessions. Drug effects were studied under double-blind conditions by making repeated observations within each subject after placebo or active drug. In the first experiment, d-amphetamine 15 mg was studied in 4 isolated subjects who had received instructions that they should talk some of the time during experimental sessions. All subjects spoke more after active drug than after placebo. In the second experiment, d-amphetamine 5--20 mg was studied in 4 subjects who were instructed to talk, but who also earned points under a fixed interval 5 min schedule by speaking (i.e. by closure of a voice operated relay). Point delivery did not generally influence patterns of speech over time. Reliable drug produced increases in amount of talking were observed in 3 of 4 subjects. Adjective checklist self report scores indicating a stimulant drug effect were also sensitive to effects of d-amphetamine. Under controlled laboratory conditions, an increase in speaking is a reliable behavioral effect of d-amphetamine in isolated humans producing speech monologues.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Barbiturate-reinforced responding in rhesus monkeys: comparisons of drugs with different durations of action.

The rate and pattern of pressing a lever was studied in rhesus monkeys under conditions where each press led to the intravenous injection of a barbiturate or of saline. The reinforcing effect of the barbiturate was indicated by higher rates of responding on the lever that delivered drug than on the lever that did not and by lower rates of responding when saline was delivered instead of the barbiturate. Responding increased and was maintained by the following ranges of dose/injection: barbital (2.5-10.0 mg/kg), pentobarbital (0.25-4.0 mg/kg), amobarbital (0.25-4.0 mg/kg), thiopental (0.50-4.0 mg/kg) and methohexital (0.125-2.0 mg/kg). Response rates were inversely related to the dose delivered with each injection for each of the barbiturates over these ranges. Within 3-hour access periods, injections tended to occur in bursts followed by pauses.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dose effects of nicotine gum.

Nicotine gum has been shown to be effective in improving abstinence rates, and in reducing post-cessation withdrawal distress and weight gain. However, the dose effects of nicotine gum on these outcomes is not known. In the present study, we varied the amount of 2 mg nicotine gum prescribed to motivated quitters to explore the hypotheses (a) that motivated quitters would use more pieces of gum when coached and counseled to do so and (b) that there would be a dose-related effect of gum use on abstinence, withdrawal symptoms, and weight gain. One hundred seventy-seven volunteers were assigned to chew either 0, 7, 15, or 30, pieces per day of 2 mg nicotine gum. Biological verification of gum use and smoking abstinence were assessed in community volunteers who attended an intensive behavioral counseling program for smoking cessation while using nicotine gum for 3 months. In the survival analysis at 12 weeks, gum-group assignment was not related to successful abstinence. In the subset of 42 abstinent subjects, there was a strong positive relationship between pieces per day of nicotine gum used and saliva cotinine. However, there was substantial variability in groups of subjects reporting similar amounts of gum use. Withdrawal symptom reporting was not related to either gum use or cotinine levels. Weight gain was significantly related in a dose-dependent manner to salivary cotinine levels, but not to gum group assignment, with high and low cotinine subjects gaining on average, 4.0 and 6.6 pounds, respectively. Discussion of the use of high levels of nicotine gum is addressed. Consistent with earlier work, the study provided further support for the relationship between nicotine replacement level and post-cessation weight gain.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nicotine-containing versus de-nicotinized cigarettes: effects on craving and withdrawal.

Nicotine exposure levels and subjective effects from smoking a de-nicotinized cigarette (Next) were examined under controlled conditions. Ten tobacco smokers smoked 20 puffs from their own brand (1.1 mg nicotine delivery, commercial cigarettes), a 0.7 mg nicotine "light" cigarette, or the Next de-nicotinized cigarette (< 0.1 mg nicotine) during independent experimental test sessions. The Next cigarette did not deliver and appreciable nicotine, did not elevate heart rate during smoking, and was rated as less satisfying than the smokers' own brand. Subjective ratings of cigarette carving and tobacco withdrawal symptoms increased during a 90 min post-smoking abstinence period. However, there were no measurable differences on these subjective ratings across the three cigarette test brands. It is concluded that nicotine can be removed from cigarettes without affecting the onset time course or intensity of cigarette cravings and other tobacco withdrawal symptoms in an acute abstinence model. Further studies to determine the subjective and physiological effects of nicotine-free cigarettes would contribute to a greater understanding of tobacco withdrawal and the processes involved in smoking maintenance.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improving treatment outcomes for pregnant drug-dependent women using low-magnitude voucher incentives.

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of low-magnitude behavioral incentives in improving attendance for abstinence-treated patients and sustaining illicit-drug abstinence for methadone-treated patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to either incentive or control conditions, with target behaviors differing for the two patient groups (attendance for abstinence-treated and abstinence for methadone-treated patients). Controls received no incentives, whereas incentive subjects could earn $5/day in vouchers during the first 7 days of an intensive outpatient treatment. Results showed that $5/day did not significantly improve attendance in abstinence-treated patients or impact drug abstinence in methadone-treated patients. The data suggest that low-magnitude voucher incentives enhanced treatment attendance by methadone-treated subjects. Although modest monetary incentives had some utility in improving attendance in methadone-treated patients, more potent interventions are needed to improve attendance and maintain abstinence in this high-risk population.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking relapse: a review.

This paper reviews nicotine addiction, and discusses the difficulty of withdrawing and remaining abstinent from tobacco. Lapse and relapse are coming to be understood as part of the cessation process itself. The goals of treatment include efforts to prevent or reverse relapse by reducing the impact of relapse factors, thereby to increase the frequency and duration of remissions. Factors reviewed that influence cessation include gender and age, health status, degree of nicotine dependence, exposure to smoking-related cues, emotional state, and use of coping strategies in high-risk situations. Successful intervention modalities include relapse prevention skills training and pharmacologic nicotine replacement. The seriousness of the health consequences of smoking supports continuation and expansion of smoking relapse research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗