Cognitive-behavioral treatment with behavioral activation for smoking cessation: Randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Behavioral Activation (BA) is a promising intervention for smoking cessation, addressing mood and reinforcement.
• Standard cognitive-behavioral treatments (SCBSCT) are established but may be enhanced.
• Integrating BA into smoking cessation programs warrants investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation treatment with BA components (SCBSCT-BA) against a standard treatment (SCBSCT) and a wait-list control (WL).
• To evaluate the efficacy of SCBSCT-BA in achieving smoking abstinence and reducing depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 275 adult smokers.
• Participants were assigned to SCBSCT-BA, SCBSCT, or WL groups.
• Biochemically verified abstinence and depressive symptoms were assessed post-treatment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• Both active treatments showed significant short-term abstinence rates.
• At 12 months, SCBSCT-BA achieved 30% abstinence versus 18% for SCBSCT.
• SCBSCT-BA demonstrated significantly higher odds of abstinence at end-of-treatment and 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• SCBSCT-BA shows positive short- and medium-term outcomes for smoking cessation.
• Smoking cessation was associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms.
• Adding BA components to cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation treatment is beneficial.