Effect of electric aversion on cigarette smoking.

Electric aversion was administered to 14 cigarette smokers. Six of the nine who completed the treatment were still abstinent at one-year follow-up. Three cases relapsed (at one, three, and four months) and five dropped out of treatment. Depression was a troublesome side-effect and was responsible for two of the drop-outs. The overall average of 21.5 cigarettes on the day before treatment dropped to an average of 1.4 cigarettes per day after the third aversion session, and though individual response varied widely most patients stopped smoking within five sessions. It is concluded that electric aversion is a powerful suppressor of cigarette smoking, but more experience is needed to ensure its best use as a measure to achieve permanent abstinence. Its use is limited to a small group of well-motivated smokers.