Smoking-cessation: the psychological cost

Michael Pertschuk
Ovide Pomerleau
David Adkins
Celia Hirsh

Abstract

To assess the psychological effects of smoking cessation, 21 subjects in a smoking treatment program were evaluated at the beginning of therapy and 4 months later. No differences were observed in reported affect, use of mental health facilities, psychotropic medications, or alcohol. A statistically but not clinically significant weight increase was observed. It is concluded that within some contexts smoking cessation need not be as stressful as popularly depicted.