EVALUATION OF CRANIAL ELECTROSTIMULATION THERAPY ON SHORT-TERM SMOKING CESSATION

The effect of cranial electrical stimulation (CES) on short-term smoki ng cessation were evaluated in a double-blind study of cigarette smoke rs who wished to stop smoking. Subjects were randomly assigned to a CE S- (n = 51) or a sham-treated group (n = 50). On 5 consecutive days su bjects received CES treatments (30-mu A, 2-mesc, 10-Hz pulsed signal) or no electrical current (sham). There were no significant differences between groups on daily cigarettes smoked, exhaled carbon monoxide, u rinary continine levels, treatment retention, smoking urges, or total tobacco withdrawal scores, although subjects in the CES group had less cigarette craving and anxiety during the first 2 experimental days. T he ineffectiveness of CES to reduce withdrawal symptoms and facilitate smoking cessation are similar to results of other clinical studies of CES in drug dependence, although positive effects of CES in animal st udies have been reported. (C) 1997 Society of Biological Psychiatry.