• Fiammetta Cosci, Annalisa Corlando, Edo Fornai, Francesco Pistelli, Paolo Paoletti, and Laura Carrozzi.
• Maastricht University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, PO Box 616 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. fiam.cosci@tiscali.it
• Addict Behav. 2009 Jan 1; 34 (1): 28-35.

AimNicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is an effective treatment for smokers who want to quit, however, the rates of successful quitting can be improved even more. In this context, nicotine dependence (assessed via the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire, FTQ), psychological distress (measured via the Symptom Rating Test, SRT), and personality traits (evaluated via the Adult Eysenck Personality Inventory, AEPI) were evaluated as possible predictors of smoking cessation.ResultsA total of 297 cigarette smokers were followed for one year as part of a NRT double-blind, parallel group, randomized trial. Baseline nicotine dependence (weeks 12 and 26: p<0.05), AEPI neuroticism (weeks 12 and 52: p<0.05), and AEPI psychoticism (weeks 12 and 52: p<0.05) scores significantly influenced the outcome of smoking cessation during one-year of follow-up. An increase in psychological distress during follow-up was associated with a lower probability of quitting smoking (p=0.000).ConclusionsNicotine dependence, neuroticism, psychoticism and, over time, psychological distress were the main factors influencing the long-term outcome (i.e., up to 12 months) of smoking cessation under NRT.

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