Negative affectivity in smokers applying to smoking cessation clinics. A case control study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess whether subjects applying to smoking cessation clinics display a higher level of affective symptoms than smokers recruited from the general population. METHODS: The study was conducted according to a cross-sectional, case-control design. Cases were smokers applying to public smoking cessation clinics for the first time and controls were smokers recruited from the general population. Socio-demographic data and clinical information were collected. Self- (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and hetero-administered (Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety scale) rating scales were used to assess anxious and depressive symptoms. Nicotine dependence was measured via a self-administered questionnaire (Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire). RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases were recruited, individually matched, and compared to controls. Overall, cases had significantly higher scores than controls when the rating scales assessing anxious and depressive symptoms were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers applying to smoking cessation clinics for the first time have a higher level of negative affectivity than smokers from the general population. An evaluation of the level of negative affectivity could be introduced into clinical practice to have a complete assessment of the patient. We propose adding psychological or pharmacological support to complement the smoking cessation program.