MOOD MANAGEMENT AND NICOTINE GUM IN SMOKING TREATMENT - A THERAPEUTICCONTACT AND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Earlier research indicated that a 10-session mood management (MM) inte rvention was more effective than a 5-session standard intervention for smokers with a history of major depressive disorder(MDD). In a 2 X 2 factorial design, the present study compared MM intervention to a cont act-equivalent health education intervention (HE) and 2 mg to 0 mg of nicotine gum for smokers with a history of MDD. Participants were 201 smokers, 22% with a history of MDD. Contrary to the earlier findings, the MM and HE interventions produced similar abstinence rates: 2 mg gu m was no more effective than placebo. History-positive participants ha d a greater increase in mood disturbance after the quit attempt. Indep endent of depression diagnosis, increases in negative mood immediately after quitting predicted smoking. No treatment differences were found in trends over time for measures of mood, withdrawal symptoms, pleasa nt activities and events, self-efficacy, and optimism and pessimism. H istory-positive smokers may be best treated by interventions providing additional support and contact, independent of therapeutic content.