Abstract
This study examines the effects of transdermal nicotine patches for smoking cessation on depressive and withdrawal symptoms among 38 non-medicated subjects with Major Depressive Disorder. The study was conducted over a 29-day period, which included a 7 day baseline phase, a 14 day treatment phase, and an 8 day placebo phase. During the treatment phase subjects received either active nicotine patches (N = 18) or placebo patches (N = 20) that were administered in a randomized, double-blind fashion. The target quit date (TQD) was day 8. Significantly, more subjects in the placebo group than in the nicotine group resumed smoking following the TQD (50% vs. 22%). There was little evidence for effects of active nicotine patches on measures of mood (HRSD, BDI, POMS) or withdrawal symptoms among subjects that remained abstinent throughout the study (N = 24). Those who resumed smoking had more severe withdrawal symptoms than those who remained abstinent. One patient in the placebo group (n = 20) became more depressed after 2 weeks of abstinence. None of the patients in the nicotine group (n = 18) became more depressed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 350-358 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Neuropsychopharmacology |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Depressive disorder
- Nicotine
- Randomized clinical trial
- Smoking cessation
- Withdrawal symptoms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health