title: The effects of transdermal nicotine therapy for smoking cessation on depressive symptoms in patients with major depression.
abstract: This study examines the effects of transdermal nicotine patches for smoking cessation on depressive and withdrawal symptoms among 38 non-medicated subjects with Major Depressive Disorder. The study was conducted over a 29-day period, which included a 7 day baseline phase, a 14 day treatment phase, and an 8 day placebo phase. During the treatment phase subjects received either active nicotine patches (N = 18) or placebo patches (N = 20) that were administered in a randomized, double-blind fashion. The target quit date (TQD) was day 8. Significantly, more subjects in the placebo group than in the nicotine group resumed smoking following the TQD (50% vs. 22%). There was little evidence for effects of active nicotine patches on measures of mood (HRSD, BDI, POMS) or withdrawal symptoms among subjects that remained abstinent throughout the study (N = 24). Those who resumed smoking had more severe withdrawal symptoms than those who remained abstinent. One patient in the placebo group (n = 20) became more depressed after 2 weeks of abstinence. None of the patients in the nicotine group (n = 18) became more depressed.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University and University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Thorsteinsson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gillin
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golshan
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelsoe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapaport
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine