Transdermal nicotine attenuates depression symptoms in nonsmokers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Abstract
Rationale Despite established links between nicotine dependence and depression, little research has examined the effects of nicotine on depression symptoms.Objective This study evaluated the acute and chronic effects of transdermal nicotine in nonsmokers with baseline depression symptoms during a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Methods Nonsmokers with scores >or=10 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) were recruited from the community. Mood and cognitive performance were measured at baseline (day 0) and at 1, 8, 21, and 28 days. Participants were randomly assigned to wear a placebo or nicotine patch for 4 weeks (3.5 mg/day during weeks 1 and 4; 7 mg/day during weeks 2 and 3). The final sample consisted of 11 nonsmokers with a mean baseline CES-D score of 27.36 (SD=10.53).Results Salivary nicotine levels indicated the majority of participants were compliant with treatment. Acute nicotine did not alter mood. After adjusting for baseline values, chronic nicotine resulted in a significant decline in CES-D scores at day 8 (3.5 mg/day), but returned to placebo levels by the last visit. This return to baseline levels was coincident with a decrease in nicotine administration from 7 to 3.5 mg/day. A similar trend for improved response inhibition as measured by the Conners Continuous Performance Task was also observed. Reported side effects were infrequent and minimal.Conclusion These findings suggest a role for nicotinic receptor systems in the pathophysiology of depression and that nicotinic compounds should be evaluated for treating depression symptoms.
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Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased rate of smoking in individuals with depression, a tendency for depressive symptoms to develop in the context of smoking cessation, and the capacity for nicotine to improve depressive symptoms, even in non-smokers.
“Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased rate of smoking in individuals with depression (Diwan et al., 1998), a tendency for depressive symptoms to develop in the context of smoking cessation (Laje et al., 2001), and the capacity for nicotine to improve depressive symptoms, even in non-smokers (McClernon et al., 2006; Salin-Pascual et al., 1996).”
From Mood and anxiety regulation by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: A potential pathway to modulate aggression and related behavioral states (2015) · cites this paper as McClernon et al., 2006
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- Authors
- McClernon, F. J., Hiott, F. B., Westman, E. C., Rose, J. E., & Levin, E. D.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- McClernon, F. Joseph
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2006-09-15
- Volume
- 189
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 125-133
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W1978775632
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- transdermal nicotine, nicotine patch, depressive symptoms, non-smokers, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, mood, response inhibition, cognitive performance, nicotine dependence
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Cutaneous, Adult, Affect, Analysis of Variance, Antidepressive Agents, Cognition, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Male, Nicotine, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Saliva, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Cross-Over Studies, Nicotinic Agonists
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