INCORPORATING BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE AND GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY INTO SMOKING CESSATION TREATMENT - EFFECTS ON SMOKING-RELATED COGNITIONS, EMOTIONS, AND BEHAVIOR-CHANGE

In this article the authors report on the short-term impact of incorpo rating biomarker feedback about exposure and genetic susceptibility in to minimal-contact quit-smoking counseling (QSC). Four hundred and twe nty-seven smokers were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments: (a) QSC, (b) Q SC + exposure biomarker feedback (EBF) about carbon monoxide in exhale d breath, or (b) QSC + EBF + biomarker feedback about genetic suscepti bility to lung cancer (SBF). We observed significant immediate positiv e effects of SEE compared with EBF and QSC, on perceived risk, perceiv ed quitting benefits, and fear arousal. However, at the 2-month follow -up, there were no group differences; in quit rates. SBF did lead to s ignificant reductions in the number of cigarettes smoked for smokers w ho were in the preparation stage. Smokers in the EBF and QSC condition s showed reductions in depressive symptoms by 2 months, but smokers in the SBF condition did not. In the context of QSC, genetic feedback ma y heighten vulnerability and possibly promote distress, but may not im mediately enhance quitting in most smokers.