Smoking outcome by psychiatric history after behavioral and varenicline treatment

Treatment outcomes were compared across smokers enrolled in the COMPASS cessation trial with (positive psychiatric history [PH+], n = 271) and without (PH−, n = 271) a diagnosis of PH based on medical record evidence of anxiety, depression, psychotic disorder, or bipolar disorder. Everyone received behavioral counseling plus varenicline and was followed for 6 months post quit date. PH+ smokers took varenicline for fewer days on average (59.4 vs. 68.5, p ≤ .01) but did not differ in their use of behavioral treatment. PH+ smokers were more likely to report anxiety and depression, but side-effect intensity ratings did not differ after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Overall, all side effects were rated as moderate intensity or less. Groups had similar 30-day abstinence rates at 6 months (31.5% PH+ vs. 35.4% PH−, p = .35). In sum, having a psychiatric diagnosis in this trial did not predict worse treatment outcome or worse treatment side effects.