PRBM-14243-nicotine-depandence-and psychological-distress-as-possible-p

Correspondence: Fiammetta Cosci Department of Psychology, University of Florence, via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, italy Tel + 39 055 623 7811 Fax +39 055 623 6047 email [email protected] Abstract: Nicotine dependence is characteristically a chronic and relapsing disease. Although 75%–85% of smokers would like to quit, and one-third make at least three serious lifetime attempts, less than 50% of smokers succeed in stopping before the age of 60. Relevant and complex factors contributing to sustained cigarette consumption, and strongly implicated in the clinical management of smokers, are the level of nicotine dependence and psychological distress. In this review of the literature, these two factors will be examined in detail to show how they may affect smoking cessation outcome and to encourage clinicians to assess patients so they can offer tailored support in quitting smoking.