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Depression and depressive symptoms in smoking cessation
L S Covey1, A H Glassman, F Stetner
1Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Smokers with a history of major depression experience more intense withdrawal symptoms, impacting smoking cessation success. Interventions targeting these symptoms could improve outcomes for this group.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Smokers with a history of major depression exhibit lower smoking cessation success rates.
- Understanding the factors contributing to poorer outcomes in this demographic is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the postcessation experience of smokers with a history of depression.
- To identify psychological factors during early withdrawal that correlate with smoking cessation treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of postcessation data from a smoking cessation trial.
- Focus on subjects in the placebo condition to isolate withdrawal effects.
- Examination of the frequency and intensity of psychological symptoms, specifically depressive mood.
Main Results:
- Smokers with a history of depression reported higher frequency and intensity of psychological symptoms, particularly depressive mood, in the first week of treatment.
- Increased psychological discomfort during early withdrawal was significantly related to poorer smoking cessation outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Elevated depressive symptoms during acute nicotine withdrawal are a key factor in reduced cessation success for individuals with a history of major depression.
- Developing interventions to mitigate dysphoric symptoms during the early postcessation period may enhance quit rates for this vulnerable population.