Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
08:05
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Predictors of smoking abstinence following a single-session restructuring intervention with self-hypnosis
D Spiegel1, E J Frischholz, J L Fleiss
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Hypnotizability and prior quit attempts predict smoking cessation success. Self-hypnosis interventions show modest but superior results compared to unaided quitting, aiding in predicting patient response.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Smoking cessation remains a significant public health challenge.
- Identifying predictors of success in smoking cessation programs is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between smoking, medical history, social support, and hypnotizability on the success of a smoking cessation program.
- To determine factors influencing both the initiation and long-term maintenance of smoking abstinence.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 226 smokers underwent a single-session habit restructuring intervention incorporating self-hypnosis.
- Outcomes were assessed based on total smoking abstinence, with follow-up extending to 2 years post-intervention.
Main Results:
- 52% achieved initial abstinence, with 23% maintaining it for 2 years.
- Hypnotizability and previous successful quit attempts (≥1 month) predicted initial abstinence.
- Hypnotizability and cohabitation with a partner predicted 2-year abstinence maintenance.
Conclusions:
- The self-hypnosis intervention yielded modest but superior results compared to spontaneous quitting.
- Predictive factors like hypnotizability can identify individuals likely to respond to brief cessation interventions.
Related Concept Videos
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
01:30Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...