TY - JOUR
T1 - Progesterone improves cognitive performance and attenuates smoking urges in abstinent smokers
AU - Sofuoglu, Mehmet
AU - Mouratidis, Maria
AU - Mooney, Marc E
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - Background: Progesterone, a steroid hormone, has been implicated in many CNS functions including reward, cognition, and neuroprotection. The goal of this study was to examine the dose-dependent effects of progesterone on cognitive performance, smoking urges, and smoking behavior in smokers. Methods: Thirty female and thirty-four male smokers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Female smokers were in the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle during study participation. Smokers were randomly assigned to either 200 or 400. mg/day of progesterone or placebo, given in two separate doses, during clinic visit. The first 3 days of the treatment period, smokers abstained from smoking, which was verified with breath CO levels. Smokers attended an experimental session on day 4 where the number of cigarettes smoked were recorded starting 2. h after the medication treatment. Results: Progesterone treatment, 200. mg/day, significantly improved cognitive performance in the Stroop and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Progesterone at 400. mg/day was associated with reduced urges for smoking but did not change ad lib smoking behavior. Conclusions: These findings suggest a potential therapeutic value of progesterone for smoking cessation.
AB - Background: Progesterone, a steroid hormone, has been implicated in many CNS functions including reward, cognition, and neuroprotection. The goal of this study was to examine the dose-dependent effects of progesterone on cognitive performance, smoking urges, and smoking behavior in smokers. Methods: Thirty female and thirty-four male smokers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Female smokers were in the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle during study participation. Smokers were randomly assigned to either 200 or 400. mg/day of progesterone or placebo, given in two separate doses, during clinic visit. The first 3 days of the treatment period, smokers abstained from smoking, which was verified with breath CO levels. Smokers attended an experimental session on day 4 where the number of cigarettes smoked were recorded starting 2. h after the medication treatment. Results: Progesterone treatment, 200. mg/day, significantly improved cognitive performance in the Stroop and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Progesterone at 400. mg/day was associated with reduced urges for smoking but did not change ad lib smoking behavior. Conclusions: These findings suggest a potential therapeutic value of progesterone for smoking cessation.
KW - Cognitive performance
KW - Menstrual cycle phase
KW - Nicotine dependence
KW - Progesterone
KW - Sex differences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649894217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78649894217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.07.005
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.07.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 20675057
AN - SCOPUS:78649894217
VL - 36
SP - 123
EP - 132
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
SN - 0306-4530
IS - 1
ER -