Nicotine fading and smokeholding methods to smoking cessation.

We tested a multicomponent behavioural package to stop smoking that contained nicotine fading and smokeholding techniques. 73 smokers were randomly assigned to one of five treatment programmes: (1) nicotine fading and cigarette fading, (2) nicotine fading and concurrent smokeholding, (3) nicotine fading and subsequent smokeholding, (4) a nonintensive smokeholding programme, and (5) an intensive smokeholding programme (daily sessions). Common components of the programmes were self-monitoring, information on smoking, stimulus control, CO feedback, and strategies to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Each treatment was carried out during a total of 10 sessions over 4 weeks (Treatments 1-4) or 2 weeks (Treatment 5). End-of-treatment quit rates ranged from 85% to 91%. At 12-mo. follow-up, the most effective package proved to have been nicotine fading and cigarette fading, with an abstinence rate of 57% as against 25 to 37% for the other treatments.