Chronic treatment with the vasopressin 1b receptor antagonist SSR149415 prevents the dysphoria associated with nicotine withdrawal in rats

•Nicotine withdrawal induces a negative mood state.•Acute treatment with a V1b receptor antagonist partly prevents withdrawal.•Chronic treatment with a V1b receptor antagonist completely prevents withdrawal.•Blockade of V1b receptors does not affect reward function in control animals.•Blockade of V1b receptors does not induce sedation or motor impairments.