Nicotine fading, behavioral contracting, and extended treatment: Effects on smoking cessation

Abstract

Twenty-eight subjects were randomly allocated to either a nicotine fading or a maintenance condition. The maintenance condition utilized behavioral contracting and extended treatment in addition to the nicotine fading to improve treatment outcome and avoid relapse. The maintenance condition achieved superior outcome on smoking measures at post-treatment and follow-up periods for self-reported smoking levels. Carbon monoxide levels were significantly lower for the maintenance condition at post-treatment, three month and six month follow-up. Saliva thiocyanate levels were significantly lower for the maintenance condition at the three month follow-up. Changes in health functioning indicated significantly lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure at six month follow-up for the maintenance condition. Additional research on nicotine regulation during nicotine fading and thiocyanate levels during experimental smoking would be useful. The use of behavioral contracting to enhance maintenance without therapeutic support warrants further research as well.

The Behavioral Economics of Substance Use Disorders: Reinforcement Pathologies and Their Repair

“…For example, the substance user may supply a relatively large up-front sum of money to be held by a third party, which is forfeited should substance use occur. Such a deposit contract is effective at controlling behaviors involving self-control including substance use and diet and exercise (Bowers et al 1987; Dallery et al 2008; Elliott & Tighe 1968; John et al 2011; Lando 1977; Paxton 1980, 1981, 1983; Singh & Leung 1988; Volpp et al 2008; Winett 1973). As discussed above, the average substance-dependent individual has an elevated discount rate, reducing the likelihood of self-controlled choices.…”

Internet‐based self‐tailored deposit contracts to promote smoking reduction and abstinence

“…To date, 15 studies have evaluated the effectiveness of deposit contracting to promote smoking abstinence (Bowers, Winett, & Frederiksen, ; Dallery, Meredith, & Glenn, ; Elliot & Tighe, ; Gine, Karlan, & Zinman, ; Halpern et al, ; Jeffery, Pheley, Forster, Kramer, & Snell, ; Lando, , ; Paxton, , , ; Singh & Leung, ; Spring, Sipich, Trimble, & Goeckner, ; White, Dow, & Rungruanghiranya, ; Winett, ), but most were published over two decades ago. Collectively, these studies suggest that deposit contracting is feasible and may increase cessation.…”

A Deposit Contract Method to Deliver Abstinence Reinforcement for Cigarette Smoking

“…Consumers are accustomed to paying a fee for health-related treatments in the United States (Busch et al, 2004). Also, there is a long history of using deposit contracting to reduce or eliminate a number of target behaviors, including cigarette smoking (Bowers, Winett, & Frederiksen, 1987;Elliot & Tighe, 1968;Lando, 1977;Paxton, 1980Paxton, , 1981Paxton, , 1983Singh & Leung, 1988;Winett, 1973). Most of these procedures specified that an initial monetary deposit can be recouped based on smoking reductions and abstinence, and the results suggest that deposit contracts are effective.…”