Flotation rest as a smoking intervention.

The present study is an attempt to produce smoking cessation or reduction in persons who smoke cigarettes heavily but are motivated to stop. It makes use of the floating environment as an intervention, coupled with messages designed to shape attitudinal change. Subjects were followed up for twelve months post-intervention. Reduction at 12 month follow-up compares favorably with other interventional techniques, and floats of longer duration appear to be a more effective intervention than shorter floats. Messages did not add to effects found. Control subjects reduced their smoking more than the experimental subjects, suggesting that the procedures used on them were actually more effective interventions.