Volume 26, Issue 3
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2017.1036
Smoking cessation treatment, Anxiety Sensitivity Reduction and Emotional Regulation Coping: A Case Study
Abstract
The following article presents the theoretical issues and components of an 8-session smoking cessation treatment for smokers with elevated emotional vulnerabilities. The methodology used was the single case study. For this, a summary is described of the content of each session and follow-ups (up to 1 year). The patient was a 38-year-old man, with high levels of nicotine dependence and anxiety sensitivity, with previous experience of failed quit attempts. The results showed significant therapeutic changes in relation to smoking outcome, and the emotional vulnerabilities identified as targets of treatment: anxiety sensitivity levels, negative affect and difficulties in emotional regulation. Overall, this case study highlights the importance of combining specific strategies for individuals with anxiety symptoms/disorders with standard smoking cessation interventions; these findings add to the growing body of research within the smoking and anxiety paradigm.
Keywords
Smoking, smoking cessation, anxiety sensitivity, emotion regulation, anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy