Impulsivity as a predictor of smoking relapse

Abstract

Background: This paper aims to establish whether people with high impulsivity scores are also more likely to take up smoking again in the first six months after cessation.

Method: We studied a sample of 92 people who had voluntarily decided to give up smoking, using the BIS-11 impulsivity score and recording the number of cigarettes smoked in the first six months after cessation. All subjects attended cognitive behavioural group therapy and were given nicotine replacement drug therapy.

Results: Our results show that impulsivity is a predictor of smoking relapse.

Conclusions: Impulsivity is a predictor of smoking relapse in people who had voluntarily decided to give up smoking.