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Thought suppression and smoking cessation

P M Salkovskis1, M Reynolds

  • 1University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, U.K.

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|February 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
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Trying to suppress smoking-related thoughts backfires, increasing their frequency. A simple distraction task effectively reduced these intrusive thoughts, offering a better strategy for smoking cessation.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Deliberate thought suppression often leads to increased intrusion frequency.
  • Intrusive thoughts are common in individuals attempting smoking reduction and cessation.
  • Smokers report difficulty controlling smoking-related intrusive thoughts and attempt suppression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of thought suppression versus distraction for managing intrusive smoking-related thoughts.
  • To apply the 'ironic process theory' of thought suppression to smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental study comparing thought suppression, simple distraction, and a control (mention) condition.
  • Participants were individuals attempting smoking reduction/cessation.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Intrusion frequency was measured across conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Instructions to suppress smoking-related thoughts increased intrusion frequency compared to a control condition.
    • A simple distracting task significantly reduced intrusion frequency below control levels.
    • Reduced intrusion levels persisted even after the distraction task ended.

    Conclusions:

    • Thought suppression is counterproductive for managing intrusive smoking thoughts.
    • Distraction is an effective strategy for reducing intrusive thoughts during smoking cessation attempts.
    • Cognitive strategies like distraction may aid in smoking reduction and cessation.