Influence of antidepressant pharmacotherapy on behavioral treatment adherence and smoking cessation outcome in a combined treatment involving fluoxetine.

The authors examined whether serum fluoxetine levels influence behavioral treatment adherence and smoking cessation outcome. Nondepressed smokers (N?=?989) from 16 centers were randomized on a double-blind basis to receive either fluoxetine (30 or 60 mg) or placebo plus 9 sessions of behavioral smoking cessation treatment. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine blood levels were assayed 1 week after the quit date. Logistic regression was used to predict treatment completion and cessation outcome, controlling for gender, age, treatment site, and degree of nicotine dependence. Higher steady-state fluoxetine blood levels (fluoxetine?+?norfluoxetine) predicted less likelihood of dropping out, χ2(1, N?=?820)?=?3.9, p?N?=?513)?=?18.1, p?