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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Addiction | Research article

The effectiveness of a standardized tobacco cessation program on psychophysiological parameters in patients with addiction undergoing long-term rehabilitation: a quasi-experimental pilot study

Authors: J. Fuchshuber, H. Schöber, M. Wohlmuth, H. Senra, C. Rominger, A. Schwerdtfeger, H. F. Unterrainer

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Although there is a very high comorbidity between tobacco dependence and other addictive disorders, there are only few studies examining the implementation and outcomes of a tobacco cessation program in patients with addictive diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate to what extent a standardized tobacco cessation program leads to improvements regarding psychological/physical parameters in patients with addiction undergoing therapy and whether there is a reduction in tobacco consumption.

Methods

The study took place in a therapeutic community specialized in addiction therapy. A total sample of 56 participants were non-randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG; n = 31) and a treatment as usual group (TAUG; n = 25). The IG participated in a 6-week tobacco cessation program, while the TAUG received no additional treatment. Both groups were assessed for changes in primary outcomes (tobacco dependence, smoked cigarettes per day (CPD), and general substance-related craving) and secondary outcomes (heart rate variability (HRV): root mean square of successive differences, self-efficacy, and comorbid psychiatric symptoms) at two measurement time points (pre- and post-treatment/6 weeks).

Results

We observed significant improvements in self-efficacy (F(1,53) = 5.86; p < .05; ηp2 = .11) and decreased CPD in the IG (β = 1.16, ρ < .05), while no significant changes were observed in the TAUG. No significant interaction effects were observed in psychiatric symptoms, general substance-related craving, and HRV.

Conclusions

The results highlight the potential benefit of an additional tobacco cessation program as part of a general addiction treatment. Although no improvements in the physiological domain were observed, there were significant improvements regarding self-efficacy and CPD in the IG compared to the TAUG. Randomized controlled trials on larger samples would be an important next step.

Trial registration

ISRCTN15684371
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Metadata
Title
The effectiveness of a standardized tobacco cessation program on psychophysiological parameters in patients with addiction undergoing long-term rehabilitation: a quasi-experimental pilot study
Authors
J. Fuchshuber
H. Schöber
M. Wohlmuth
H. Senra
C. Rominger
A. Schwerdtfeger
H. F. Unterrainer
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03405-z

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