Can the blind see? Participant guess about treatment arm assignment may influence outcome in a clinical trial of bupropion for smoking cessation.

In a placebo-controlled bupropion smoking cessation trial, we examined blind integrity, the link between blind integrity and quit rates, and whether side effects and changes in nicotine withdrawal symptoms or mood were mechanisms through which blind integrity is threatened. At a 12-month follow-up, 498 participants indicated whether they thought they received bupropion, placebo, or were not sure. Potential mediators of treatment effects on treatment arm guess (i.

Associations between relationship support and psychological reactions of participants and partners to BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in a clinic-based sample.

Background: Despite the potential importance of communication about genetic testing between test participants and their significant others, little is known about social support and communication between women undergoing BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing and their partners.

Purpose: The aims of this longitudinal study were to examine communication about genetic testing during and following testing and to evaluate whether communication is associated with psychological distress reported by test participants and their partners.

Methods: Participants were 153 women who were undergoing genetic testing and 118 partners of women undergoing testing.

Effects of dopamine transporter and receptor polymorphisms on smoking cessation in a bupropion clinical trial.

This study examined the role of dopaminergic genes in prospective smoking cessation and response to bupropion treatment in a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Smokers of European ancestry (N=418) provided blood samples for genetic analysis and received either bupropion or placebo (10 weeks) plus counseling. Assessments included the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) genotype, dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) genotype, demographic factors, and nicotine dependence.

Pharmacogenetic investigation of smoking cessation treatment.

Despite the efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation, smokers exhibit variability in treatment outcome. The CYP2B6 gene has been implicated in bupropion kinetics and nicotine metabolism, and is a plausible candidate for pharmacogenetic studies of treatment response. We investigated whether a functional genetic polymorphism in the CYP2B6 gene predicts smoking outcomes in a placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Psychosocial correlates of alternate tobacco product use during early adolescence.

Background: The objective was to assess psychosocial correlates of alternate tobacco product (chew/snuff, cigar, pipe, bidi, kretek) use.

Methods: Measures of alternate tobacco product use, cigarette smoking, environmental smoking exposure, and depression were included in a school-based self-report survey completed by 1,107 ninth graders.

Results: The current (past 30 days) use rate for one or more alternate tobacco products was 8.