Mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of smoking: a systematic literature review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to systematically review the effects of mindfulness-based interventions for smoking treatment, focusing on cessation, relapse prevention, and coping strategies.
Results Summary
The review found promising results for mindfulness in smoking cessation, relapse prevention, reducing cigarette consumption, moderating craving effects, and developing coping strategies. Most studies were pilot or feasibility trials with low bias risk in some areas but lacked sufficient data on selection, performance, and detection bias.
Population
Tobacco smokers seeking treatment for smoking cessation.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Follow-up periods up to 6 months (exact intervention duration not specified)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | follow-up lasting up to 6 months | patients who have gone through treatment for smoking | - | presented encouraging preliminary results | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | smoking cessation | - | - | reported promising results | #2 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | relapse prevention | - | - | reported promising results | #3 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | number of cigarettes smoked | - | - | reported promising results | #4 |
mindfulness | decrease | craving and smoking | - | - | moderation on the strength of relationship | #5 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | development of coping strategies to deal with triggers to smoke | - | - | reported promising results | #6 |
mindfulness | increase | mental health | - | - | appears to induce positive effects | #7 |
mindfulness | increase | tobacco abstinence | - | - | might contribute to the maintenance | #8 |
OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a chronic process in which craving and negative affect are considered the main barriers to maintaining abstinence in patients who have gone through treatment. Mindfulness-based interventions have presented encouraging preliminary results in follow-up lasting up to 6 months. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic literature review on the effects of mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of smoking. METHODS: Of 198 articles on mindfulness and smoking, 13 controlled empirical studies were selected for the analysis. The search included papers published through April 14, 2014. The databases used were Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. RESULTS: Scientific interest on mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of smoking has increased over the past decade. All articles reported promising results, especially for smoking cessation, relapse prevention, number of cigarettes smoked, the moderation of mindfulness on the strength of relationship between craving and smoking, and the development of coping strategies to deal with triggers to smoke. Most of the articles corresponded to pilot or feasibility randomized controlled trials with low risk of bias regarding random sequence generation, attrition, and reporting. However, few articles reported sufficient data on selection, performance, and detection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness appears to induce positive effects on mental health, which might contribute to the maintenance of tobacco abstinence. Despite the promising results regarding the responses of tobacco smokers to mindfulness-based interventions, additional well-designed clinical studies are needed.