title: Implicit attitudes towards smoking predict long-term relapse in abstinent smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has previously been argued that implicit attitudes toward substance-related cues drive addictive behavior. Nevertheless, it remains an open question whether behavioral markers of implicit attitude activation can be used to predict long-term relapse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between implicit attitudes toward smoking-related cues and long-term relapse in abstaining smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implicit attitudes toward smoking-related cues were assessed by means of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the evaluative priming task (EPT). Both measures were completed by a group of smokers who volunteered to quit smoking (patient group) and a group of nonsmokers (control group). Participants in the patient group completed these measures twice: once prior to smoking cessation and once after smoking cessation. Relapse was assessed by means of short telephone survey, 6 months after completion of the second test session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EPT scores obtained prior to smoking cessation were related to long-term relapse and correlated with self-reported nicotine dependence as well as daily cigarette consumption. In contrast, none of the behavioral outcome measures were found to correlate with the IAT scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings corroborate the idea that implicit attitudes toward substance-related cues are critically involved in long-term relapse. A potential explanation for the divergent findings obtained with the IAT and EPT is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium, adriaan.Spruyt@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spruyt
authors.forename: Valentine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemaigre
authors.forename: Bihiyga
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salhi
authors.forename: Dinska
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Gucht
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tibboel
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Bockstaele
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Houwer
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Meerbeeck
authors.forename: Kristiaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nackaerts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014936:Word Association Tests