Toma de decisiones en el tabaquismo: Efectos predictores y mediadores de la ansiedad en las recaídas y las decisiones desventajosas

Decision-making in smoking: Predictive and mediating effects of anxiety on relapse and disadvantageous decisions

Abstract

Detecting factors associated with relapse during smoking cessation treatment is a challenge. In the present study, we evaluated the predictive and mediating capacity of different factors to predict the number of relapses after 12 months. Ninety-three smokers (34 men and 59 women, age range: 27-69, M_age = 46.34, SD_age = 8.28) seeking smoking cessation treatment at the occupational risk prevention service of the University of Granada provided carbon monoxide samples to determine abstinence. At baseline we assessed depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsivity Scale), and level of dependence (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence). Results showed that decision-making and anxiety were predictors for the number of relapses after 12 months. Mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect pathway between relapse and decision-making through anxious symptomatology. These findings contribute to understanding why certain smokers are more likely to relapse.