Behavioral activation and smoking cessation outcomes: The role of depressive symptoms.
INTRODUCTION
Depressive symptoms are related to smoking cessation outcomes. We examined the effects of behavioral activation (BA), as part of a cognitive behavioral intervention to quit smoking, in terms of abstinence rates according to depressive symptom level. We also analyzed whether BA could differentially benefit participants with higher versus lower anhedonia.


METHODS
The sample was composed of 183 smokers (Mage = 45.3; 62.8% female) who participated in a randomized clinical trial assessing the effects of a BA intervention compared to a standard intervention. Smoking outcomes were biochemically confirmed point prevalence abstinence, and abstinence days after treatment during one year follow-up. The intensity of depressive symptomatology and anhedonic symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II.


RESULTS
No differences in abstinence rates were found in relation to depressive symptom level. The BA condition (vs. standard condition) predicted greater abstinence rates (OR = 1.91) in participants with lower scores on depressive symptoms, whereas in participants with higher scores, it did not (OR = 1.17). Moreover, the BA condition predicted greater abstinence rates in participants with lower scores on anhedonia. When examining days of abstinence during the one-year follow-up period, a significant interaction was found between depressive symptoms and treatment condition, favoring the BA condition.


CONCLUSION
BA implemented as part of a cognitive behavioral intervention to quit smoking improves long-term abstinence rates, especially among those with fewer depressive symptoms.
['Martínez-Vispo|Carmela|C|', 'López-Durán|Ana|A|', 'Senra|Carmen|C|', 'Rodríguez-Cano|Rubén|R|', 'Fernández Del Río|Elena|E|', 'Becoña|Elisardo|E|']
D000328:Adult D059445:Anhedonia D001521:Behavior Therapy D000073865:Cigarette Smoking D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy D003863:Depression D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D016540:Smoking Cessation D016896:Treatment Outcome
Behavioral activation Smoking cessation Anhedonia Depressive symptomatology