Therapeutic Group For Smokers: Results After Two-year Follow-up [grupo Terapêutico Para Tabagistas: Resultados Após Seguimento De Dois Anos]

Objective. To evaluate the smokers' profile, immediate results and outcome after 25 months of treatment at a university public service. MethOds. One hundred and seventy one smokers were evaluated for treatment in the Therapeutic Group (TG) of the Service of Psychoactive Substances. We evaluated sociodemographic variables, history of smoking, presence of medical comorbidity and psychiatric symptoms, initial and late outcomes (median 25 months), by telephone contact. Frequency analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used, with a significance level of 5% for associated factors. Results. Most patients were female (73.4%), married (48%), had basic education (74.6%), were working (57%); 65.2% started to smoke before the age of 15, 63.8% smoked for more than thirty years, 76% already had tried to stop smoking, 46.2% had severe dependence, 72.1% had medical comorbidity and 36% presented psychiatric symptoms. The service was sought by 51%, mainly concerned with health. During treatment, 79.1% stopped smoking. After 25 months, 62% remained abstinent. The variable associated with failure of smoking cessation was the presence of psychiatric symptoms. Variables related to relapse were psychiatric symptoms and lesser attendance at Motivation Group sessions. There was an association between clinical comorbidity and years of smoking and years of inactivity conclusion. This study reinforces the importance of understanding the profile of the subjects to evaluate strategies employed and adequacy of treatment proposed for smokers to improve the rates of smoking cessation and reduce rates of relapse.555593596Coping with craving (2007) Tabagismo: Dados e números, , http://www.inca.gov.br/tabagismo/frameset.asp?item=dadosnum&link=mundo.htm, Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), Disponível emCoping with craving (1999) Making a Difference. Geneve: World Health Report, , http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/index.html, World Health Organization (WHO), Available fromCarlini, E.A., Galduróz II, J.C.F., (2007) Levantamento Domiciliar sobre o uso de drogas psicotrópicas no Brasil. Brasília, , (DF): Secretaria Nacional AntidrogasCigarette smoking attributable mortality and years of potential life lost (1994) MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 43, pp. 925-30. , Centers for Diseases Control(1996) Smoking cessation. Special populations and topics, 5, pp. 67-69. , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville: AHCPRJain, A., Treating nicotine addiction (2003) BMJ, 327, pp. 139-45Balbani, A.P.S., Montovani, J.C., Métodos para abandono do tabagismo e tratamento da dependência de nicotina (2005) Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol, 71, pp. 82-7Azevedo, R.C.S., Higa, C.M.H., Assumpção, I.S.A.M., Fernandes, R.F., Boscolo, M.M., Frazatto, C.R.G., Atenção aos tabagistas pela capacitação de profissionais da rede pública (2008) Rev Saúde Pública, 42, pp. 353-5Sales, M.P.U., Figueiredo, M.R.F., Oliveira, M.I., Castro, H.E., Ambulatório de apoio ao tabagista no Ceará: Perfil dos pacientes e fatores associados ao sucesso terapêutico (2006) J Bras Pneumol, 32, pp. 41-7Fagerström, K.O., Schneider, N.G., Measuring nicotine dependence: A review of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (1989) J Behav Med, 12, pp. 159-82Haggstram, F.M., Chatkin, J.M., Cavalet Blanco, D., Rodin, V., Fritscher, C.C., Tratamento do tabagismo com bupropiona e reposição nicotínica (2001) J Pneumol, 27, pp. 255-61Prochaska, J.O., Diclemente, C.C., Norcross, J.C., In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors (1992) Am Psychol, 7, pp. 11-2Berretenini, W.H., Lerman, C.E., Pharmacotherapy and pharmaogenesis of nicotine dependence (2005) Am J Psychiatry, 162, pp. 144-51Hymowitz, N., Cummings, K.M., Hyland, A., Lynn, W.R., Pechacek, T.F., Hartwell, T.D., Predictors of smoking cessation in a cohort of adult smokers followed for five years (1997) Tobacco Control, 6 (SUPPL. 2), pp. S57-62Ratto, L.R.C., Menezes, P.R., Gulinelli, A., Prevalence of tobacco use in individuals with severe mental ilness, São Paulo, Brazil (2007) Rev Saúde Pública, 41, pp. 51-6Morissette, S.B., Tull, M.T., Gulliver, S.B., Kamholz, B.W., Zimering, R.T., Anxiety, anxiety disorders, tobacco use and nicotine: A critical review of interrelationships (2007) Psychol Bull, 133, pp. 245-72Schumann, A., Hapke, U., Meyer, C., Rumpf, H.J., John, U., Prevalence, characteristics associated mental disorders and predictors of DSMIV nicotine dependence (2004) Eur Addict Res, 10, pp. 29-3