The Effects of Craving and Abstinence From Cigarettes on Brain Metabolism in Smokers

Summary

Craving and withdrawal from smoking cigarettes are major factors for relapse. We investigated craving for cigarettes in smokers undergoing pharmacological treatment with Bupropion (Zyban). We compare cue-induced reactivity to smoking videos in smokers who were successfully treated with Bupropion to smokers who are still smoking. We measured the brain's metabolic activity in response to smoking and neutral cues in Positron Emission Tomography using FDG.

Timeline

Start

2004-07

Primary completion

2007-10

Completion

2007-10

Publications

• Weinstein A, Greif J, Yemini Z, Lerman H, Weizman A, Even-Sapir E. Attenuation of cue-induced smoking urges and brain reward activity in smokers treated successfully with bupropion. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Jun;24(6):829-38. doi: 10.1177/0269881109105456. Epub 2009 Jul 31.

Drugs

Indications