In conclusion, this pilot EMA study provides a unique characterization of the dynamic interplay between cigarette craving, withdrawal/NA, and PA during early nicotine abstinence. Results can inform experimental studies of these constructs, for example by suggesting that studies investigating the role of smoking heaviness should consider requiring 3–4 hours of abstinence, when group differences in both craving and withdrawal/NA were observed. Furthermore, by demonstrating robust associations between PA and craving in nicotine abstinence and the modest anticorrelation between NA and PA, the present study underlines the necessity of addressing both NA and PA independently in both etiological research and in treatment development efforts. Future studies with larger samples are required to properly validate and extend these findings, which in turn can (a) inform patterns of vulnerability during early quit attempts, thus informing early cessation treatment targets, and (b) refine assessment methods used for treatment development.
