Helping People With Serious Mental Illness Quit Smoking
Dr. Eden Evins and colleagues recently published a study examining the efficacy of an 18-month community-based tobacco smoking cessation intervention. The intervention consisted of both pharmacologic (Varenicline, dual-form nicotine replacement, or their combination) and behavioral components (tailored individual and group counseling for motivational enhancement; smoking cessation and relapse prevention; weight management counseling and support for physical activity). Results showed that participant’s who received the treatment intervention were more likely to achieve smoking abstinence at an 18-month follow up compared to the control group. Evidence suggests that providing extended smoking cessation support for those with a serious mental illness can be effective in reducing smoking and improving cardiovascular health, even for people reporting they are not ready to quit smoking right away.
Please find the full article in the following link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1691