The Multi-Component Smoking Cessation Support Programme (McSCSP) is effective in patients with severe mental disorder...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Smoking is highly prevalent in individuals with severe mental disorders (SMD), increasing their morbidity and mortality.
• Gender differences in smoking cessation are documented, but understudied in SMD populations.
• The Multi-Component Smoking Cessation Support Programme (McSCSP) aims to improve smoking cessation rates in SMD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender differences in the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the McSCSP in patients with stabilized SMD.
• To assess short-term and long-term smoking cessation outcomes by gender.
• To evaluate adverse events and treatment tolerability between genders.

Main Methods:

• A 9-month, prospective, multicentre trial with a non-randomized, open-label design.
• Participants with stabilized SMD received the McSCSP.
• Smoking cessation was assessed at multiple time points, and safety/tolerability data were collected.

Main Results:

• No significant gender differences were observed in short-term or long-term smoking cessation efficacy.
• Males showed a significant increase in abdominal perimeter, but this was not observed in females.
• No significant gender differences in the occurrence of adverse events like constipation, vivid dreams, or skin reactions were found.

Conclusions:

• The McSCSP is effective and safe for smoking cessation in both male and female patients with stabilized SMD.
• A potential short-term advantage for females using varenicline warrants further investigation.
• Larger sample sizes are needed to confirm potential subtle gender differences in treatment response.