Preliminary Observations on an Intervention Program for Heavy Smokers

Abstract

Each of 571 smokers selected one of three methods of smoking cessation: group therapy, individual counseling, and hypnosis. One-year results suggest little difference between the three methods in producing ex-smokers. All methods produced an average success rate of approximately 20%. It should be noted, however, that with all types of verbal or verbally related therapy it is not known precisely how these techniques work or whether the outcomes are really a function of what is put into the therapy by the treatment agent and/or the recipient. It was generally found that younger, more educated smokers chose hypnosis; older, more educated smokers chose group therapy; and older, less-formally educated smokers chose individual counseling while the youngest and generally less educated smokers chose to become nonattenders and not take part in therapy. These results have important implications for designing optimal treatment programs which will be acceptable and effective for the greatest number of smokers.

The clinical use of hypnosis.

“…The above conclusions await confirmation by more adequate investigations. The studies reviewed suffer from several shortcomings: (a) too few treatment sessions (Perry et al, 1979;Perry & Mullen, 1975), (b) small sample sizes (all studies except Shewchuk et al, 1977), (c) inadequate self-report measures (all studies), and (d) lack of attention to individual differences (all studies except Francisco, 1973;Perry et al,, 1979). Homogeneous samples of smokers would allow for more precise determination of the role of susceptibility in smoking reduction.…”

Descriptive outcomes of the american lung association of ohio hypnotherapy smoking cessation program

“…Techniques such as deep breathing, relaxation, positive ego-enhancing suggestions, and health risk education frequently accompanied the hypnosis procedure. Group settings were the predominant approach as opposed to one-on-one sessions, and reported quit rates varied widely, from 10% to 87% (Johnson & Karkut, 1994;Neufeld & LYM, 1988;Shewchuk et al, 1977;Sorenson, Beder, Prible, & Pinney, 1995; D. Spiegel, Frischholz, Fleiss, and Spiegel, 1993;Valbo & Eide, 1996;Williams & Hall, 1988). Possible explanations for outcome variability included different participant inclusion criteria, variability in how "success" was measured, and length of follow-up, as well as smoking history characteristics of participants (Lynn, Neufeld, Rhue, & Matorin, 1993).…”

Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy and Behavioral Self‐Management in Smoking Cessation1

“…This may have resulted in high subject anxiety, which could counteract the usual positive cognitive and attitudinal consequences of REST (Suedfeld, 1980). Shewchuk, Dubren, Burton, Forman, Clark, and Jaffin (1977) and Best (1 978) discuss the concept of hierarchically-ordered cessation services. For example, a smoker might first try a self-help or mass-media (Best, 1980) approach to quitting.…”