URGES TO SMOKE DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF ABSTINENCE - RELATIONSHIP TORELAPSE AND PREDICTORS

The urges to smoke reported by 215 former smokers were measured 1 day, 7 days, 14 days and 30 days after they quit to examine: (a) the time course of smoking urges, (b) the relationship of urges to relapse, and (c) predictors of urges to smoke. Urges to smoke were strongest 1 day after quitting, and decreased at each subsequent measurement point. U rges were a powerful predictor of relapse. At each of the four assessm ent points, abstinent subjects who reported stronger urges to smoke we re more likely to relapse by the next measurement point. Urges to smok e at a given day (e.g., day 1) were consistently the best predictors o f the persistence of urges at the next assessment (e.g., day 7). Great er negative emotion (e.g., anxiety, sadness, anger, and confusion) and psychosocial stress also predicted stronger urges to smoke. Nicotine um significantly reduced urges during week 1 postcessation. Clinical i mplications of the findings are discussed.