NEWS
Tailored approach to
quitting does work
One third of smokers in the UK access mental health services. NHS-commissioned
trial shows that bespoke stop smoking support can double quit rates.
By Lucy MacKinnon
Smoking is the “single most modifiable risk for
those with severe mental ill-health” according
to UK research.
Efforts to combat this are crucial considering
that patients with poor mental health are
two-to-three times more likely to smoke than
the general population, experts have found in
what was the largest trial of behavioural
intervention for smokers using mental health
services. The trial was commissioned by the
NHS in 2008.
Lead researchers, Professor Simon Gilbody, Dr
Emily Peckham and research fellow Suzanne
Crosland all worked on the Smoking
Cessation Intervention for Severe
Mental Ill Health (SCIMITAR) trial
and took part in a recent webinar to
discuss the findings.
The study, published in The Lancet
Psychiatry, showed that combining NHS
smoking cessation services with a bespoke
strategy delivered by mental health nurses,
along with behavioural support and drugs, is
effective.
Results show that their intervention group, who
received treatment specifically designed for
patients with severe mental illnesses, were
three times as likely to stop smoking successfully
using this strategy and nicotine replacement
treatments (NRT), including e-cigarettes.
Working with the Mental Health and Smoking
Partnership, the researchers aimed to find a
solution to the increasing gap between smokers
of sound mental health and those suffering from
mental illness.
With over one third of cigarettes smoked in
the UK being consumed by users of mental
health services, Professor Gilbody stressed
the importance of recognising and helping this
demographic as they are, “doubly stigmatised,
for smoking and for using mental health services.”
Although there were no significant improvement
changes in depression and anxiety symptoms
for these patients, there were no declines
recorded either – which stands against the
idea that smoking cessation deteriorates mental
health.
These results were determined from patient
“Smoking intervention is one of the
best investments for the NHS”
28 | VM23
– Professor Simon Gilbody
answered ‘quality of life’ questionnaires, but
the webinar also referenced other studies
which demonstrated an improvement in these
symptoms.
As this trial was initially designed over ten years
ago, e-cigarettes were not an explicit component
however NRT was actively encouraged, and
throughout the course of the trial in both groups
more than one third of participants used an
e-cigarette.
The trial, “resulted in a reduced overall cost
and a greater level of effectiveness” estimated
at around 57 percent, even considering the
training of mental health practitioners in the
delivery of this strategy along with the cost of
NRT medication.
Professor Simon Gilbody added, “Smoking
intervention is one of the best investments for
the NHS” in the long term.