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Tobacco withdrawal in self-quitters
1Departments of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401-1419.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Smokers quitting on their own experienced nicotine withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and irritability. While most symptoms resolved within 30 days, depression predicted relapse, not withdrawal severity.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Nicotine withdrawal is a common challenge for individuals attempting to quit smoking.
- Understanding the trajectory of withdrawal symptoms and their predictors is crucial for developing effective cessation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the time course of self-reported and observer-rated nicotine withdrawal symptoms in unaided quitters.
- To identify factors, including withdrawal symptoms, craving, and depression, that predict relapse after smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study assessed smokers quitting independently at multiple time points postcessation (2, 7, 14, 30, 90, 180 days).
- Data included self-reported and observer-rated nicotine withdrawal symptoms, craving, depression, and substance intake.
Main Results:
- Nicotine withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, irritability, restlessness, concentration difficulties) and physiological changes (decreased heart rate) peaked postcessation.
- Most withdrawal symptoms, excluding hunger and weight gain, returned to baseline by 30 days.
- Postcessation depression was a significant predictor of relapse, whereas withdrawal severity, craving, and weight gain were not.
Conclusions:
- Unaided smoking cessation involves a temporary increase in nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which largely subside within a month.
- Depression following cessation is a critical factor influencing long-term smoking abstinence.
- Targeting depression may be essential for improving smoking cessation success rates.