Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for smoking adults in IT Industry

Background: Tobacco use including both the smoking and the non-smoking forms of tobacco is common in India, Tobacco consumption is responsible for half of all the cancers in men and a quarter of all cancers in women, in addition to being a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The World Health Organization predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of smoking alcoholic patients. According to Kalman et al., the cognitive behavioral approach is used in the treatment of smoking by allowing changes in the lifestyle of the individuals, as well as modifications of dysfunctional beliefs and behaviors that relate to the act of smoking. Objective: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a therapy based on cognitive and behavioral techniques: cognitive psychological education, cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, breathing exercises and relaxation, all aiming at behavioral changes. The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for smoking adults in IT Industry. Methods: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Sessions were carried out in two stages: (1) a “stop smoking” stage lasting four weeks, with 3 sessions/ week; (2) a maintenance stage beginning with 2 weeks of a single weekly session, followed by monthly sessions until the end of treatment. Results: Thirty adults’ men participated in this research. After the CBT treatment, 18 adults had stopped smoking, whereas 11 relapsed during the course of the year; one abandoned treatment. Married adults showed better results: 60% stopped smoking by the end of the treatment. Conclusions: The dominance of CBT for 15 weeks, suggests that continued emphasis on the development of cognitive and behavioral strategies for maintaining non-smoking behaviour among IT professional, during an extended treatment phase may help smokers to maintain abstinence in the longer term. At present, the minimum duration of therapy is unknown. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy proved to be effective in the treatment of tobacco dependency mainly in married men.