Mindful Attention Awareness as a Predictor of Smoking Quitting in Nicotine Cessation Treatment: Preliminary Data from a Pilot Study

In tobacco abuse many psychological, neuro-biological and social factors are involved. Research on nicotine addiction has achieved rather than limited results in identifying useful variables as indicators of treatment outcomes for tobacco smoking cessation. The aim of our research is to analyze the relationships between the mindfulness construct and smoking abstinence in individuals subjected to pharmacological treatment and motivational counseling exploring if the mindful construct is associated with increased likelihood of smoking cessation. Preliminary data from a pilot study carried out in the northern of Italy with a sample of 25 smokers enrolled from a smoking cessation program were reported. Participants were evaluated with the Fagerström test, General Health Questionnaire, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and were assigned a target-quit date of 24-hr which is the first day that they will attempt complete abstinence. Results indicated that mindful score appears as a salient factor for abstinence. Further studies are necessary to confirm our findings identifying ways to modify pre-quit characteristics that may help smokers to achieve the first smoking cessation milestone.