title: Adjunctive varenicline treatment for smoking reduction in patients with schizophrenia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Smoking is more common among patients with schizophrenia than it is in the general population. Varenicline, a partial and full agonist at the α4β2 and α7 nicotine acetylcholine receptors, respectively, has been shown to be an effective anti-smoking treatment. This study examined the effects of varenicline treatment on smoking reduction in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  
  Sixty smokers with schizophrenia were recruited and randomized to receive either varenicline or placebo. Smoking behavior was assessed with the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (mNWS), Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urge (QSU-brief), and Modified Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire (mCEQ). Exhaled carbon monoxide was also measured to assess smoking dependency and status. Data were analyzed with the two-tailed Student's t-test, χ(2) test, and repeated measures ANOVA.
  
  
  
  During the 8-week study, there was a significant time×group interaction, which showed that smoking decreased over time in the varenicline group. Expired CO levels also decreased in the varenicline group, showing a significant time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction. Total mCEQ scores decreased in the varenicline group, demonstrating a significant time×group interaction. Among the five domains of the mCEQ, the smoking satisfaction, psychological reward, and enjoyment of respiratory tract sensation domains showed significant time×group interactions in the varenicline group. The QSU-brief and mNWS demonstrated a significant time effect, but not significant time×group interactions. Adjunctive varenicline treatment with antipsychotics was generally well-tolerated and safe.
  
  
  
  Varenicline showed significant efficacy in reducing smoking in people with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dongwookjeon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Shim Joo Cheol Psychiatry Clinic, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shimjch@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Joo-Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: coolkong@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Bo-Geum
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ymandjj@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Jung-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sharing and Happiness Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: npsys@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: e1004f@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Sung-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: minkyung@busanpaik.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Min-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gabriel.jdu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Do-Un
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000074264:Smoking Reduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D000068580:Varenicline
keywords: Schizophrenia; Smoking; Varenicline