Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T00:14:55.578Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Severity of withdrawal symptoms as a predictor of outcome of an attempt to quit smoking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

R. J. West ,
P. Hajek  and
M. Belcher
R. J. West*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London and Addiction Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London
P. Hajek
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London and Addiction Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London
M. Belcher
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London and Addiction Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr R. J. West, Psychology Department, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

In 227 smokers' clinic clients who managed at least one week of abstinence, ratings of withdrawal symptoms were used to predict subsequent return to smoking. Depression, time spent with urges to smoke, and difficulty not smoking during the first week of abstinence were significantly associated with lapse back to smoking during the second week. Depression and difficulty not smoking during the second week significantly predicted smoking status during the third week. No withdrawal symptoms during the third week were associated with a return to smoking during the fourth week. The predictive power of withdrawal symptoms was over and above that of smoke intake and dependence. The findings provide some support for the view that reduction of withdrawal symptoms may be a worthwhile target in programmes for helping smokers to quit.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , November 1989 , pp. 981 - 985
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cummings, K. M., Jaen, C. R. & Giovino, G T. (1985). Circumstances surrounding relapse in a group of recent ex-smokers. Preventive Medicine 14, 195–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hajek, P., Belcher, M. & Stapleton, J. (1985). Enhancing the impact of groups: an evaluation of two group formats for smokers. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 24, 289–294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, J. R, & Hatsukami, D. (1986). Signs and symptoms of tobacco withdrawal Archives of General Psychiatry 43, 289–294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, J. R., Higgins, S. T. & Hatsukami, D. (1988). Effects of abstinence from tobacco. In Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems (ed. Kozlowski, L. T., Annis, H., Cappell, H. D., Glaser, F, Goodsladt, M., Israel, Y., Kalant, H., Sellers, E. M. and Vingilis, A.). Plenum: New York.Google Scholar
Jarvis, M. J, Raw, M., Russell, M. A. H. & Feyerabend, C. (1982). Randomised controlled trial of nicotine chewing gum. British Medical Journal 285, 537–540.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marlatt, G A. & Gordon, S R. (1985). Relapse Prevention: Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors. Guilford Press: New York.Google Scholar
Shiffman, S. (1979). The tobacco withdrawal syndrome. In Cigarette Smoking as a Dependence Process. NIDA Research Monograph No 23 (ed. Krasnegor, N A.), pp. 158–185. US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Shiffman, S. (1982). Relapse following smoking cessation: situational analysis Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 50, 71–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stilzer, M. L. & Gross, J (1988). Smoking relapse the role of pharmacological and behavioral factors. In Nicotine Replacement a Critical Evaluation (ed. Pomerleau, O and Pomerleau, C.), pp 163–184. Alan Liss New York.Google Scholar
West, R. (1984). Psychology and pharmacology in cigarette withdrawal. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 28, 379–386.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West, R. & Russell, M. A. H (1985). Preabstinence smoke intake and smoking motivation as predictors of cigarette withdrawal symptoms. Psychopharmacology 87, 334–336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West, R. & Schneider, N. (1987). Craving for cigarettes British Journal of Addiction 82, 407–415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed