Genetics can help determine whether a person is likely to quit smoking on his or her own or need medication to improve the chances of success, according to research published online May 30 in AJP in Advance. Researchers say the study moves health care providers a step closer to one day providing more individualized treatment plans to help patients quit smoking. "We found that the effects of smoking cessation medications depend on a person’s genes,” said lead author Li-Shiun Chen, M.D., of the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. “If smokers have the risk genes, they don't quit easily on their own and will benefit greatly from the medications. If smokers don’t have the risk genes, they are likely to quit successfully without the help of medications such as nicotine replacement or bupropion.”
The study was supported by multiple components of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “This study builds on our knowledge of genetic vulnerability to nicotine dependence, and will help us tailor smoking cessation strategies accordingly,”said NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D. “It also highlights the potential value of genetic screening in helping to identify individuals early on and reduce their risk for tobacco addiction and its related negative health consequences.”
Data from previous studies show that depression is strongly linked to smoking and difficult quitting. For more information, see Psychiatric News, here.
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