The effectiveness of nicotine-patch therapy for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia

Int J Nurs Stud. 2004 Mar;41(3):321-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2003.07.001.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nicotine-patch therapy for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia. This was a longitudinal study and sixty-eight schizophrenic patients were assigned to 8 weeks of a nicotine-patch therapy program or a control group. The generalized estimating equation analysis revealed that there were significant reductions in the subjects' nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire), the number of cigarettes per day, and CO levels over an 8-week period of nicotine-patch therapy and 3-month follow-up. The point-prevalence rates of abstinence from smoking were an abstinence of 26.9% at 8 weeks and 26.9% at a 3-month follow-up. At the 3-month follow-up, the rate of continuous smoking abstinence in the nicotine-patch group was 23.1%.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adult
  • Carbon Monoxide / blood
  • Female
  • Ganglionic Stimulants / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nicotine / administration & dosage*
  • Patient Compliance
  • Prevalence
  • Schizophrenia / complications*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Smoking / blood
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Smoking Cessation / psychology
  • Smoking Prevention*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / blood
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / complications
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / prevention & control*
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / psychology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Ganglionic Stimulants
  • Nicotine
  • Carbon Monoxide