Effect of three smoking cessation treatments on nicotine withdrawal in 141 abstinent alcoholic smokers.

This prospective study examined the effect of three behavioral smoking interventions and reductions in cigarettes smoked per day on nicotine withdrawal symptoms in 141 abstinent alcoholic smokers (73 men, 68 women). The participants' mean +/- SD age was 41.4 +/- 9.2 years. They smoked an average of 27.7 +/- 12.1 cigarettes per day and reported 4.1 +/- 4.3 years of current abstinent from alcohol and other drugs of dependence. Participants were randomly assigned to a 12-week program of standard treatment (ST, n = 61), behavioral counseling plus exercise (BEX, n = 39), or behavioral counseling plus nicotine gum (BNIC, n = 41). All three conditions included instructions to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day prior to the target quit date (TQD). The TQD was week 4 for ST subjects and week 8 for those in the BEX and BNIC groups. The post-treatment assessment occurred one week after TQD. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered at baseline and posttreatment to assess nicotine withdrawal. Significant increases were detected for the POMS total mood disturbance score, and the depression, tension, anger and confusion subscales, while vigor scores decreased (all p < 0.03). Withdrawal change scores were not found to be associated with treatment condition or percentage reduction in cigarettes, and there was no evidence of a significant interaction of treatment and cigarette reduction. Results are discussed in relation to implications for treatment and for future research.