Depressive symptoms in the trajectory of craving during smoking cessation treatment: A latent growth curve model

ABSTRACT

Background: Depressive symptoms and craving are related to smoking maintenance; however, little is known about the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms and smoking craving after quitting. Objectives: We examined if depressive symptom change relates to change in craving following smoking cessation treatment. Methods: Participants were 362 (64.1% female; 35.9% male) adult treatment seeking smokers who quit smoking after treatment. Depressive symptoms and craving trajectories were evaluated during smoking cessation treatment until 6 months follow-up. A latent growth curve model was used to study the correlation between trajectories. Results: Depressive symptoms and smoking craving reduced significantly after quitting. Change in depressive symptoms was significantly related to change in craving symptoms over time. Conclusions: Quitting smoking was related to a reduction in depressive symptoms and craving. Clinically, the reduction of depressive symptoms is associated with reduce craving. The data suggest depression plays an important role in craving change following treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Depressive symptoms
• smoking craving
• smoking cessation
• latent growth curve model

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) (Projects references: PSI2012-31196 and PSI2015-66755-R). Rubén Rodríguez-Cano was granted with a Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness-Doctoral Research Training Grant (BES-2013-064101).