Behavior therapy and the transdermal nicotine patch: effects on cessation outcome, affect, and coping

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Addiction medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Smoking cessation is a major public health goal.
• Behavioral interventions are key components of smoking cessation programs.
• Nicotine replacement therapy can augment behavioral interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of behavior therapy alone (BT) versus behavior therapy plus the nicotine patch (BTP) for smoking cessation.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on participant distress and self-efficacy.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 64 participants undergoing a structured smoking cessation program.
• Interventions included cognitive-behavior therapy, stress management, and behavioral rehearsal.
• Participants were assigned to either BT or BTP, with follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Higher abstinence rates were observed in the BTP group compared to the BT group at the end of treatment (79% vs. 63%) and 3-month follow-up (p < .01).
• The difference in abstinence rates diminished at 6-month (p = .06) and 12-month (p = 38% vs. 22%) follow-ups.
• The BTP group reported less general distress and higher self-efficacy compared to the BT group.

Conclusions:

• Combining behavior therapy with the nicotine patch is more effective for short-term smoking cessation than behavior therapy alone.
• The BTP intervention may lead to more effective coping mechanisms and higher self-efficacy in individuals attempting to quit smoking.
• While short-term benefits are clear, long-term cessation maintenance requires further investigation for both interventions.