November 08, 2006

Addition of CBT May Help Smokers With Schizophrenia to Quit

Adding Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and "Motivational Interviewing" to nicotine replacement therapy may help people with psychotic disorders quit smoking more than nicotine replacement products alone.

A "dose dependent" improvement was seen wherein the patients who received the most Motivational Interviewing/CBT sessions had the greatest reduction in smoking without any deterioration in symptoms or functioning.

Source: Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163: 1934–1942

More Information on Schizophrenia and Smoking Cessation:
Schizophrenia, Nicotine and Smoking - Special Report



Comments

Are you aware of the anti-smoking drug Zyban. I smoked four packs a day
until last January ant I have been free of cigarettes now for over 10 months
(as of Nov. 8, 2006) by using Zyban (generic name Welbutrin). I used the
Zyban for four months which, in my case, was long enough for the craving for
nicotine to have disappeared.

Posted by: William O. Romine Jr. at November 8, 2006 03:22 PM

One of my adult daughters was on Wellbutrin. It significantly cut down on her cigarette cravings, but she still smoked just 1-2 cigarettes per day.

Since Zyban/Wellbutrin/Bupropion lowers seizure threshold, some people cannot take it. My daughter had to discontinue it for that reason.

I think that if she had been stable at the time she was taking it, she probably would have quit smoking entirely. Now she wants to quit but finds it too difficult.

I think it is amazing that you smoked that much and were able to quit. Wow!

Posted by: Naomi at November 8, 2006 07:58 PM

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