Relationship of perceived risks of smoking cessation to symptoms of withdrawal, craving, and depression during short-term smoking abstinence

The current study examined the relationship between perceived risks of quitting smoking and the self-reported experience of risks (e.g., cravings) during short-term abstinence. Participants (n = 55) were daily smokers enrolled in a study of contingency management for smoking cessation with biochemically confirmed abstinence for 1 week. Participants were divided into groups of higher and lower perceived risk of quitting. There were no differences by risk group in demographics or baseline smoking, nicotine dependence, cravings, withdrawal, and depression. Although participants with higher levels of perceived risks reported a similar pattern of cravings and withdrawal symptoms during abstinence, they experienced higher levels of cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and depression than participants with lower risk beliefs. There were no differences in the relationship of risk to withdrawal symptoms by gender. Smokers with higher levels of perceived risk may find it more difficult to quit and remain abstinent due to higher levels of anticipated or experienced withdrawal symptoms and may benefit from targeted behavioral interventions with regard to risk perception and enhanced coping with withdrawal and other effects of smoking cessation.