Alcohol consumption and partner violence among women entering substance use disorder treatment.

To test the hypothesized role of alcohol consumption as a proximal risk factor for partner violence, a within-subjects analysis compared levels of alcohol consumption in violent versus nonviolent conflict events among substance-abusing women and their male partners. Participants were married or cohabiting women (N = 145) who had recently begun a substance abuse treatment program and reported both a violent and a nonviolent relationship conflict event with their male partner in the prior 6 months. The average age was 38, and 83% were White.

Role of functional genetic variation in the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) in response to bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco dependence: results of two randomized clinical trials.

Although bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are efficacious tobacco dependence treatments, there is substantial interindividual variability in therapeutic response and most smokers relapse. Pharmacogenetics research may improve treatment outcomes by identifying genetic variants predictive of therapeutic response. We investigated the roles of two functional genetic variants in the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene in response to pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence among participants in two randomized clinical trials with a 6-month follow-up period: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of bupropion (n=414) and an open label trial of transdermal nicotine vs nicotine nasal spray (n=368).

Effects of different nicotine replacement therapies on postcessation psychological responses.

Transdermal nicotine patch (TN) and nicotine nasal spray (NS) are both efficacious forms of smoking cessation treatment, but have different pharmacokinetic properties and modes of action. To understand better psychological responses to treatment, we investigated the effects of TN versus NS on positive affect, negative affect, and withdrawal symptoms during treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to receive TN (n=172) or NS (n=163) plus seven sessions of behavioral counseling, and completed self-report questionnaires at pretreatment and during treatment.

Cigarette smoking practices among American college students: review and future directions.

Cigarette smoking among college students is a critical public health problem. In this article, the authors review available research on cigarette smoking practices among college students and suggest directions for future research. Studies show that smoking by college students is associated with being White, living in housing where smoking is permitted, using alcohol and other substances, and having a lower psychological sense of well-being.

Individualizing nicotine replacement therapy for the treatment of tobacco dependence: a randomized trial.

Background: Despite the well-documented efficacy and different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of different forms of nicotine replacement therapy, empirical data are insufficient to guide practitioners in selecting a particular form of treatment for individual patients with tobacco dependence.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative efficacy of transdermal nicotine and nicotine nasal spray and identify predictors of treatment outcome.

Design: Randomized, open-label clinical trial with a 6-month follow-up period.

Gender differences in smoking cessation in a placebo-controlled trial of bupropion with behavioral counseling.

Among smokers, women may be at greater risk than men for developing smoking-related diseases, perhaps because they have greater difficulty quitting smoking, as suggested by numerous studies. In the present study, we hypothesized that bupropion would reduce this gender disparity among 314 women and 241 men enrolled in a placebo-controlled, randomized trial using behavioral counseling plus 10 weeks of bupropion (300 mg). Prolonged abstinence and biochemically verified point prevalence outcomes were measured at end of treatment (8 weeks after the quit date) and at 6-month follow-up.

Subjective effects of an initial dose of nicotine nasal spray predict treatment outcome.

Rationale: Nicotine nasal spray (NS) is recommended as one of five first-line smoking cessation products. A clinically convenient tool to identify smokers most likely to benefit from NS could assist healthcare practitioners in selecting the optimal treatment for individual patients.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the subjective effects of an initial pre-treatment dose of NS predict 6 month abstinence rates following NS treatment for tobacco dependence.

Predictors of attendance in a randomized clinical trial of nicotine replacement therapy with behavioral counseling.

Participant attendance at smoking cessation-counseling sessions is an important factor in treatment outcome. In this study, we examined the influence of demographic, psychological, and smoking history variables on attendance at a randomized clinical trial comparing transdermal nicotine and nicotine nasal spray that included seven sessions of behavioral group counseling. Of the 353 participants, 70.

Individual differences in nicotine intake per cigarette.

The increase in levels of blood nicotine that occurs from smoking a single cigarette, sometimes referred to as a "nicotine boost," is an individualized measure of how much nicotine has been extracted from smoking a cigarette. This study investigated the demographic, smoking status, and psychological predictors of nicotine boost in a sample of 190 treatment-seeking smokers. Boost was assessed by comparing plasma nicotine levels before and after participants smoked one of their own brand cigarettes ad libitum.

Mediating mechanisms for the impact of bupropion in smoking cessation treatment.

Several studies have documented the effectiveness of bupropion for smoking cessation, yet little is known about the mechanisms by which it facilitates abstinence. In this placebo-controlled randomized trial. We examined whether bupropion's effects on cessation were mediated by changes in withdrawal and/or negative or positive affect (PA).