Predictors of smoking cessation in a sample of Italian smokers.
In this study we identify several pretreatment characteristics which predict abstinence at 6 months. Moreover, the persistence of withdrawal discomfort and of an increased frequency of night awakenings during the first month of abstinence, together with a tendency to "slip" during Weeks II-IV, strongly predicted relapse. Our results suggest that: 1) Predictors of outcome cannot be automatically extended from one cultural context to another; 2) a careful assessment of certain variables, made while the patient is still under treatment, provides significant prognostic hints; 3) ex-smokers' sleeping and dreaming function has been ignored by the literature, whereas they may well be involved into the maintenance of the drug-free state.
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Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D002638:Chewing Gum; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D012894:Sleep Stages; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology
D002638:Chewing Gum; D009538:Nicotine