Carmody 2008: hypnosis plus nicotine patches

Carmody TP, Duncan C, Simon JA, Solkowitz S, Huggins J, Lee S, Delucchi K. Hypnosis for smoking cessation: a randomized trial. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2008;10(5):811–818. DOI 10.1080/14622200802023833.

This trial is in Cochrane 2019. It is not hypnosis versus nicotine replacement. Both arms received patches.

Key evidence

286 current smokers at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center were randomised. Each arm received two 60-minute sessions, three follow-up phone calls, and two months of nicotine patches.

At 6 months, 7-day point-prevalence abstinence was 29% (hypnosis) versus 23% (counselling) by self-report (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.84–1.92). Biochemically or proxy-confirmed rates were 26% versus 18% (RR 1.44; 95% CI 0.91–2.30). At 12 months, self-report was 24% versus 16% (RR 1.47; 95% CI 0.90–2.40); confirmed 20% versus 14% (RR 1.40; 95% CI 0.81–2.42). Every one of those intervals includes 1.0.

The authors reported a clearer hypnosis advantage among participants with a history of depression. That is a subgroup finding, not the main-effect headline.

The paper’s closing line (that hypnosis plus patches “compares favourably” with counselling plus patches) should be read next to those intervals.

Limitations

A VA sample is not every smoker. Two sessions plus patches is a specific package. Cochrane still placed the field at “insufficient evidence” after including this trial.

What we don't know yet

Whether a depression-history effect would replicate in a pre-specified, independently run trial is open.

This page is informational only. It is not personal medical advice.