DETERMINANTS OF DRUG PREFERENCE STUDY 1

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Previous research suggests that the effects of stress differ in men and women, that they depend on ovarian hormone levels in women, and that they differ in smokers and non-smokers (Kirschbaum et al, 1999). In this study, we will characterize the time course of the consequences of acute stress, including changes in subjective state (e.g., increased anxiety or stimulation), physiological signs (heart rate and blood pressure), and plasma hormone levels (cortisol, ACTH, allopregnanolone). We will also examine the relationship of stress responses and genetic factors. Four groups of subjects will participate: 20 healthy non-smoking males, 20 healthy male cigarette smokers, 20 non-smoking women tested during the follicular phase and 20 non-smoking women tested during the luteal phase of their cycle. This proposed design will allow us to compare smokers and nonsmokers, men and women, and women during two phases of the cycle. Each subject will participate in two sessions, one with stress and the other without stress, in randomized order. Subjective and physiological measures will be obtained before, during and at regular intervals for 120 min after undergoing the TSST to characterize the time course of responses to acute stress. The results of this descriptive study will guide subsequent studies.