Premium
Would smokers with schizophrenia benefit from a more flexible approach to smoking treatment?
Author(s) -
McChargue Dennis E.,
Gulliver Suzy B.,
Hitsman Brian
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00064.x
Subject(s) - abstinence , smoking cessation , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychological intervention , psychiatry , modalities , medicine , psychology , treatment modality , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , surgery , social science , pathology , sociology
We evaluated literature that addresses the notion that flexible smoking treatment approaches are warranted for smokers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Understanding the biological and psychological mechanisms that increase the likelihood of smoking and decrease the motivation to quit for these individuals is addressed within the framework of a neurobiological model. We provide a brief overview of the limited smoking cessation treatment literature for patients with schizophrenia and compare abstinence‐focused versus reduction‐focused treatment modalities. The potential utility of the reduction‐focused approach to tobacco treatment for these smokers is evaluated. Suggestions for future research to address the utility and efficacy of reduction‐focused interventions for smokers with schizophrenia are put forth. We conclude with a consideration of the implications for the current understanding of smoking treatment among patients with co‐morbid psychiatric diagnoses.