Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: results from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world, and long-term abstinence rates remain modest. Mindfulness training (MT) has begun to show benefits in a number of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety and more recently, in addictions. However, MT has not been evaluated for smoking cessation through randomized clinical trials.

Methods: 88 treatment-seeking, nicotine-dependent adults who were smoking an average of 20cigarettes/day were randomly assigned to receive MT or the American Lung Association's freedom from smoking (FFS) treatment. Both treatments were delivered twice weekly over 4 weeks (eight sessions total) in a group format. The primary outcomes were expired-air carbon monoxide-confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence and number of cigarettes/day at the end of the 4-week treatment and at a follow-up interview at week 17.

Results: 88% of individuals received MT and 84% of individuals received FFS completed treatment. Compared to those randomized to the FFS intervention, individuals who received MT showed a greater rate of reduction in cigarette use during treatment and maintained these gains during follow-up (F=11.11, p=.001). They also exhibited a trend toward greater point prevalence abstinence rate at the end of treatment (36% vs. 15%, p=.063), which was significant at the 17-week follow-up (31% vs. 6%, p=.012).

Conclusions: This initial trial of mindfulness training may confer benefits greater than those associated with current standard treatments for smoking cessation.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1. CONSORT diagram

Figure 2. Individuals receiving Mindfulness Training reduce cigarette smoking more than those receiving Freedom From Smoking

Mixed effect regression model estimates of cigarette smoking in Mindfulness Training (MT, n=33) and Freedom From Smoking (FFS, n=38) during the week before treatment initiation and the four weeks of treatment (F=11.11, df=1,1082, p=.001).

Figure 3. Individuals receiving Mindfulness Training achieve greater point prevalence abstinence rates than those receiving Freedom From Smoking

One-week point prevalence abstinence rates for Mindfulness Training (MT) and Freedom From Smoking (FFS) at the end of treatment (χ2=3.45, df=1, p = .063) and 17-week follow-up (χ2=6.32, df=1, p=.012), n=33 in MT and n=38 in FFS.