Behavior therapy and the transdermal nicotine patch: effects on cessation outcome, affect, and coping.
The process and outcome of a smoking cessation program using behavior therapy alone (BT) or behavior therapy plus the nicotine patch (BTP) was studied in 64 participants. Participants quit smoking on a target date after a period of ad libitum smoking, cognitive-behavior therapy preparing them for cessation, and behavioral rehearsal for high-risk situations, including stress management, and coping with negative affect. Abstinence was significantly higher for the BTP group versus the BT group from the end of behavioral treatment (79% vs. 63%) through the 3-month follow-up (p < .01), with the effects weakening at the 6- (p = .06) and 12-month marks (p = 38% vs. 22%). More general distress was observed among BT versus BTP participants (i.e., increased withdrawal, tension, fatigue, and coping frequency with decreased coping effort; coping-to-urge ratio). The coping behavior of the BTP group may have been more effective than that of the BT group, as indicated by their significantly higher level of self-efficacy.
Cinciripini
P M
PM
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Cinciripini
L G
LG
Wallfisch
A
A
Haque
W
W
Van Vunakis
H
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome