Concurrent tobacco and khat use is associated with blunted cardiovascular stress response and enhanced negative mood: a cross-sectional investigation

Objectives Khat (Catha edulis), an amphetamine‐like plant, is widely used in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is becoming a growing problem in other parts of the world. The concurrent use of tobacco and khat is highly prevalent and represents a public health challenge. We examined for the f...

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Published in:Human psychopharmacology 2014-07, Vol.29 (4), p.307-315
Main Authors: al'Absi, Mustafa, Nakajima, Motohiro, Dokam, Anisa, Sameai, Abed, Alsoofi, Mohamed, Saem Khalil, Najat, Al Habori, Molham
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Affect - drug effects
Blood Pressure - drug effects
cardiovascular response
Catha - adverse effects
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Heart Rate - drug effects
Humans
khat
Male
negative affect
Nicotiana - adverse effects
psychopharmacology
Self Report
Stress, Physiological
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders - physiopathology
tobacco
Yemen - epidemiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives Khat (Catha edulis), an amphetamine‐like plant, is widely used in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is becoming a growing problem in other parts of the world. The concurrent use of tobacco and khat is highly prevalent and represents a public health challenge. We examined for the first time associations of the concurrent use of tobacco and khat with psychophysiological responses to acute stress in two sites in Yemen. Methods Participants (N = 308; 135 women) included three groups: users of khat and tobacco, users of khat alone, and a control group (nonsmokers/nonusers of khat). These individuals completed a laboratory session in which blood pressures (BP), heart rate, and mood measures were assessed during rest and in response to acute stress. Results Concurrent use of khat and tobacco was associated with attenuated systolic BP, diastolic BP, and heart rate responses to laboratory stress (ps 
ISSN:0885-6222
1099-1077
DOI:10.1002/hup.2403