Self-rating depression scale score is a strong independent predictor of smoking cessation outcomes

Abstract

Abstract
Depression is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. However, impact of latent depressive state on the achievement of smoking cessation is unknown. We performed a self-rating depression scale (SDS) test involving 65 consecutive patients who visited a smoking cessation clinic for the first time. Patients with previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders were excluded. The depressive state was evaluated according to the SDS score as normal (SDS score: 38 or lower, n=29), normal/neurosis borderline (SDS score: 39-47, n=17), and neurosis/depression (SDS: 48 or higher, n=19). The smoking cessation rate was markedly low in the normal/neurosis borderline group (35.3%, P=0.030 vs. normal) as well as the neurosis/depression group (21.1 %, P=0.002 vs. normal), compared with the normal group (69.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that among various variables on the initial consultation, the SDS score was the only independent determinant of smoking cessation failure (P=0.032, OR: 0.927, CI: 0.866-0.993). These findings suggest that even a latent depressive state greatly affects the achievement of smoking cession in Japanese patients.