Depressive symptoms in the trajectory of craving during smoking cessation treatment: A latent growth curve model.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms and craving are related to smoking maintenance; however, little is known about the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms and smoking craving after quitting.

OBJECTIVES: We examined if depressive symptom change relates to change in craving following smoking cessation treatment.

METHODS: Participants were 362 (64.1% female; 35.9% male) adult treatment seeking smokers who quit smoking after treatment. Depressive symptoms and craving trajectories were evaluated during smoking cessation treatment until 6 months follow-up. A latent growth curve model was used to study the correlation between trajectories.

RESULTS: Depressive symptoms and smoking craving reduced significantly after quitting. Change in depressive symptoms was significantly related to change in craving symptoms over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Quitting smoking was related to a reduction in depressive symptoms and craving. Clinically, the reduction of depressive symptoms is associated with reduce craving. The data suggest depression plays an important role in craving change following treatment.