Relationship between anxiety and depression with smoking cessation treatments: a follow-up study

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ABSTRACT Background Smoking is known to be closely associated with stress levels and anxiety. In this study, the effects of smoking cessation treatments were investigated on anxiety/depression. Methods Socio-demographic characteristics, The Fagerström/Test/Nicotine/Dependence and the Hospital Anxiety/Depression-Scale, were applied for the first time. The first group received “varenicline+counseling,” second group “bupropion+counseling,” and third group “counseling only.” The Hospital Anxiety/Depression-Scale was recorded in quit smokers. Anxiety and depression scores were compared between groups and between smokers and ex-smokers in the first and sixth months. Results Firstly, The Hospital Anxiety/Depression-scale revealed that anxiety was noted in 46.8%, depression in 11.2%, and anxiety and/or depression in 48.9%. A significant decrease in both anxiety and depression scores was observed in quit smokers at 6 months (47.9%, 37.4% respectively) (p < .001). In the sixth month, there was a significant decrease in anxiety scores in the varenicline and bupropion groups. In addition, a significant decrease in the depression score of was observed in the varenicline group. In the bupropion group, the smoking cessation rate was higher in those with high anxiety and/or depression scores (66.7%). Conclusions Varenicline decreased anxiety/or depression scores in both smokers and quit smokers, whereas quit smoking rate increased in those with anxiety/depression in the bupropion.