Association Between Smoking, Brain Activity, Genes, and ADHD

University of California Irvine (UCI)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Withdrawal Nicotine; ADHD; Smoking

Treatments: Behavioral: Abstinence; Behavioral: Cigarette smoking

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00915798

K01DA025131 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

HS 2009-6740

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study investigated the underlying mechanisms of smoking in young adults by examining the associations between smoking, brain activity, dopamine genes, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Full description

The study investigated the underlying mechanisms of smoking in young adults by examining the associations between smoking, brain activity, dopamine genes, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Four groups of young adults were recruited: (1) smokers with ADHD; (2) nonsmokers with ADHD; (3) normative control smokers; and (4) normative control nonsmokers. Smoking was assessed via questionnaires and salivary cotinine levels. Brain activity was examined via functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Each nonsmoker underwent an fMRI scan during an experimental task consisting of mathematical problems. Smokers underwent two fMRI scans during similar experimental tasks under the following two conditions: (1) after smoking a cigarette and (2) after overnight abstinence. The association between the DRD4-7 repeat allele and smoking was explored.

Enrollment: 89 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Smokers with ADHD

   • Cigarette smoking for the last year
   • ADHD diagnosis

2. Nonsmokers with ADHD

   • No history of regularly smoking cigarettes
   • ADHD diagnosis

3. Normative control smokers

   • Cigarette smoking for the last year
   • No history and diagnosis of ADHD

4. Normative control nonsmokers

   • No history of regularly smoking cigarettes
   • No history and diagnosis of ADHD

Exclusion criteria

• Children under the age of 18
• Adults above the age of 45
• Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
• Any major medical illness
• Any mental disorders that require medication (except stimulant medication)
• Any contraindications to fMRI scanning
• Not speaking English

Trial design

89 participants in 4 patient groups

Smokers with ADHD

Description:

Smokers with ADHD participated in one overnight abstinence condition (withdrawal) and one smoking condition (smoking the first cigarette of the morning).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Abstinence

Behavioral: Cigarette smoking

Nonsmokers with ADHD

Description:

Nonsmokers with ADHD participated in one condition.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Abstinence

Control smokers

Description:

Control smokers participated in one overnight abstinence condition (withdrawal) and one smoking condition (smoking the first cigarette of the morning).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Abstinence

Behavioral: Cigarette smoking

Control nonsmokers

Description:

Control nonsmokers participated in one condition.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Abstinence