Clinical utility of the combination of cognitive-behavioral techniques with nicotine patches as a smoking-cessation treatment: five-year results of the "Ex-Moker" program.

This article examines the clinical utility of behavior therapy combined with nicotine patches as a smoking-cessation treatment, by presenting the results obtained at 5 years with 142 persons who attended a private center specialized in smoking-cessation treatment and who received a multicomponent program with cognitive-behavioral techniques and 24-hour nicotine patches. Abstinence rates at posttreatment and at 5-year follow-up were 58.5% (point prevalence abstinence) and 33.1% (continuous abstinence for the last 12 months), respectively (94.3% and 51.6%, taking into account only those persons who were contacted at posttreatment and at follow-up). After 5 years, the rate of cigarettes smoked per day was reduced by 7 in those persons who were unable to quit smoking. Results are discussed in the context of previous studies that examine the efficacy of behavior therapy and its combination with nicotine patches, using more fully controlled designs and conditions. It is suggested that results in clinical practice seem to be as good as those obtained in efficacy studies.