Extended treatment for cigarette smoking cessation: a randomized control trial

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Smoking cessation remains a significant public health challenge.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an established intervention for smoking cessation.
• Optimizing the duration and delivery of CBT is crucial for improving long-term success rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of extending cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) duration on long-term smoking abstinence.
• To compare the effectiveness of non-extended CBT versus extended CBT (E-CBT) in a randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• A two-group parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted with 219 smokers.
• Participants received initial combined CBT, bupropion SR, and nicotine patch, followed by tailored medication management.
• Randomization occurred at 26 weeks to either non-extended CBT (no additional sessions) or extended CBT (E-CBT) up to 48 weeks.

Main Results:

• Point-prevalence abstinence rates at 52 weeks were similar between the non-extended CBT (40%) and E-CBT (39%) groups.
• At 104 weeks, abstinence rates were also comparable: 39% for non-extended CBT and 33% for E-CBT.
• No statistically significant difference in smoking abstinence was observed between the groups at either follow-up point.

Conclusions:

• Extending cognitive-behavioral therapy from 26 to 48 weeks does not appear to enhance long-term smoking abstinence.
• The findings suggest that the benefits of CBT for smoking cessation may plateau, and prolonged therapy does not yield superior outcomes.