The relationship between depression and smoking cessation outcomes in treatment-seeking substance abusers.

The NIDA Clinical Trials Network’s recently completed protocol CTN-0009 was a randomized, open label trial comparing treatment as usual (TAU) combined with nicotine patches plus cognitive behavioral group counseling for smoking cessation (n=153) to TAU alone (n=72) for patients enrolled in treatment programs for drug or alcohol dependence who were interested in quitting smoking. This article reports on a secondary analysis evaluating the effect of depressive symptomatology (n=70) or history of depression (n=110) on smoking cessation outcomes. A significant association was seen between measures of depression and difficulty quitting cigarettes. Specifically, there was a greater probability for smoking abstinence for those with lower baseline BDI-ll scores (Beck Depression Inventory). These data suggest that evaluation and treatment of depressive symptoms may play an important role in improving smoking cessation outcomes.

Related protocols: CTN-0009