Garey Lorra, Rinck Mike, Rosenfield David, Nizio Pamella, Beevers Christopher G, Brown Richard A, Conroy Busch Haley E, Dutcher Christina D, McSpadden Bryan, Zvolensky Michael J, Smits Jasper A J
Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2025 Apr 22;27(5):830-838. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae218.
Approach bias, the automatic tendency to advance toward, rather than move away from appetitive cues, has been associated with greater tobacco cravings, dependence, and likelihood of smoking relapse. Approach bias retraining (ABR) has emerged as one way to reduce approach bias and promote avoidance of smoking cues. Yet, additional research is needed to identify the mechanisms that may help explain the effect of ABR on smoking cessation.
The current study uses data collected as part of a randomized controlled trial to test two unique mechanisms of action ([1] approach bias and [2] tobacco craving) for the efficacy of standard smoking cessation treatment (ST) augmented by ABR on smoking abstinence. Participants were 96 adult daily smokers (Mage = 43.1, SD = 10.7) motivated to quit smoking.
Results showed that lower approach bias and lower cravings at a treatment session were significantly related to the next session smoking abstinence (p's < .018). Furthermore, deviations in approach bias partially mediated the effect of ABR on smoking abstinence (ab = -12.17, 95% CI: [-29.67, -0.53]). However, deviations in tobacco craving did not mediate this relation (ab = .40, 95% CI: [-0.27, 1.34]).
The current findings add to the extant literature by identifying approach bias as a mechanism of action of the effect of ABR on smoking abstinence during smoking cessation treatment.
The current study adds to the best of our knowledge on the effectiveness of ABR as a part of smoking cessation treatment. Results indicate that reductions in approach bias partially mediate the effect of ABR on smoking abstinence. These findings are consistent with previous research on alcohol-dependent adults and underline the potential of ABR to reduce approach bias and promote smoking cessation among smokers. Such findings could inform the development of future research exploring more targeted and effective smoking cessation interventions, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals attempting to quit smoking.
趋近偏向，即自动趋向而非远离诱人线索的倾向，已被证明与更强烈的烟草渴望、烟草依赖以及吸烟复发的可能性相关。趋近偏向再训练（ABR）已成为一种减少趋近偏向并促进对吸烟线索回避的方法。然而，仍需要更多研究来确定可能有助于解释ABR对戒烟效果影响的机制。
本研究使用作为随机对照试验一部分收集的数据，来测试标准戒烟治疗（ST）联合ABR对戒烟效果的两种独特作用机制（[1]趋近偏向和[2]烟草渴望）。参与者为96名有戒烟意愿的成年每日吸烟者（平均年龄Mage = 43.1，标准差SD = 10.7）。
结果显示，在一次治疗中较低的趋近偏向和较低的渴望与下一次治疗的戒烟显著相关（p值 <.018）。此外，趋近偏向的偏差部分介导了ABR对戒烟的影响（ab = -12.17，95%置信区间：[-29.67, -0.53]）。然而，烟草渴望的偏差并未介导这种关系（ab =.40，95%置信区间：[-0.27, 1.34]）。
当前研究通过确定趋近偏向是ABR在戒烟治疗期间对戒烟效果的一种作用机制，为现有文献增添了内容。
本研究增进了我们对ABR作为戒烟治疗一部分有效性的了解。结果表明，趋近偏向的降低部分介导了ABR对戒烟的影响。这些发现与先前对酒精依赖成年人的研究一致，并强调了ABR在减少趋近偏向和促进吸烟者戒烟方面的潜力。这些发现可为未来探索更具针对性和有效性的戒烟干预措施的研究发展提供参考，最终改善试图戒烟者的结局。
