A multi-dimensional analysis of cue-elicited craving in heavy smokers and tobacco chippers.

AIMS: This research examined the performance of a broad range of measures posited to relate to smoking craving. DESIGN: Heavy smokers and tobacco chippers, who were either deprived of smoking or not for 7 hours, were exposed to both smoking (a lit cigarette) and control cues. PARTICIPANTS: Smokers not currently interested in trying to quit smoking (n = 127) were recruited. Heavy smokers (n = 67) averaged smoking at least 21 cigarettes/day and tobacco chippers (n = 60) averaged 1-5 cigarettes on at least 2 days/week. MEASUREMENTS: Measures included urge rating scales and magnitude estimations, a rating of affective valence, a behavioral choice task that assessed perceived reinforcement value of smoking, several smoking-related judgement tasks and a measure of cognitive resource allocation. FINDINGS: Results indicated that both deprivation state and smoker type tended to affect responses across these measurement domains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the use of several novel measures of craving-related processes in smokers.