History of depression and subsyndromal depression in women smokers

While Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with difficulty quittin g smoking, few studies have examined the role of subsyndromal depression (S ubD). We examined pretreatment differences in smoking, weight concerns, and negative affect among three groups of women (N = 281) enrolling in a smoki ng cessation program who responded to a self-report questionnaire about the lifetime presence of MDD symptoms: self-report positive for MDD, self-repo rt positive for SubD, and self-report negative for depression (fulfilling e ither DSM-III-R symptom or duration criteria, but not both). Compared to MD D Subjects (Ss), SubD Ss were more likely to report eating disordered behav iors. Compared to Non-Depressed (Non-Dep) Ss, SubD Ss initiated smoking ear lier, and reported greater previous withdrawal symptoms, more eating disord ered behaviors, and higher anxiety, depression, and stress. Compared to Non -Dep Ss, MDD Ss reported a greater smoking rate during their heaviest usage period, greater previous withdrawal symptoms, lower self-efficacy to manag e food intake (especially during negative affect situations), and greater d epression and anxiety. Many of these significant differences disappeared wh en SubD Ss were combined with Non-Dep Ss and compared with MDD Ss as is don e traditionally. SubD does not appear to be on a continuum with Non-Dep and MDD groups, but rather warrants further investigation as a discrete subset of smokers. The implications for assessment and treatment are discussed. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.