Randomized trial comparing mindfulness training for smokers to a matched control

Abstract

Smoking continues to take an enormous toll on society, and although most smokers would like to quit, most are unsuccessful using existing therapies. These findings call on researchers to develop and test therapies that provide higher rates of long-term smoking abstinence. We report results of a randomized controlled trial comparing a novel smoking cessation treatment using mindfulness training to a matched control based on the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking program. Data were collected on 175 low socioeconomic status smokers in 2011-2012 in a medium sized Midwestern city. A significant difference was not found in the primary outcome; intent-to-treat biochemically confirmed 6-month smoking abstinence rates were Mindfulness = 25.0%, Control= 17.9% (p = 0.35). Differences favoring the mindfulness condition were found on measures of urges and changes in mindfulness, perceived stress, and experiential avoidance. While no significant differences were found in quit rates, the mindfulness intervention resulted in positive outcomes.

Mindfulness Meditation for the Treatment of Tobacco Use: A Systematic Review

“…The mindfulness intervention was delivered remotely, via personal digital assistant, in one of the studies (Ruscio et al, 2015). Four of the studies delivered the mindfulness intervention in an outpatient setting (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b;Tang, Tang, and Posner, 2013). In four of the studies, it was unclear where the intervention was delivered (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Brewer et al, 2011;Rogojanski, Vettese, and Antony, 2011a;Singh et al, 2014).…”

“…The interventions included three studies utilizing MTS (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). Two of the studies had brief mindfulness interventions (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Ruscio et al, 2015), described as brief mindfulness practice and brief mindfulness-based instructions, respectively.…”

“…Two RCTs utilized a mindfulness intervention as adjunctive therapy, specifying that all participants received this in addition to nicotine replacement (Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). Two of the studies were unclear in whether the mindfulness intervention was monotherapy or adjunctive therapy (Brewer et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2014).…”

“…Two RCTs compared a mindfulness intervention with the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking (FFS) program (Brewer et al, 2011;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). In one of these, both mindfulness and FFS groups were provided with nicotine replacement (Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b).…”

“…In one of these, both mindfulness and FFS groups were provided with nicotine replacement (Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). Four RCTs compared mindfulness meditation with an alternative intervention, including telephone counseling (in addition to nicotine replacement), interactive learning for smokers, relaxation training, and suppression strategies (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Rogojanski, Vettese, and Antony, 2011a;Tang, Tang, and Posner, 2013).…”