Treating Schizophrenic Smokers: Effects on Craving, Cues and Withdrawal

Exclusion Criteria

• •Any serious or unstable medical problem in the last 6 months
• •Severe renal impairment
• •A history of clinically significant allergic reactions to nicotine agonist medications
• •Current primary use of tobacco products other than cigarettes
• •Breath alcohol level \> 0.005 g/l at screening
• •Current substance abuse or dependence (besides nicotine)
• •Current attempts to quit smoking using any method
• •Designation as legally incompetent to sign the informed consent (i.e., have a guardian or have delegated power of attorney to another).
• •Other exclusions are:
• •Current use of medications that might affect the behavioral response to cigarette smoking, including transdermal nicotine or nicotine gum and bupropion - Inability to participate in the screening session due to severe psychosis, severe depression or suicidality, current mania, or an organic mental disorder such as dementia or delirium
• •Presence of unstable psychiatric symptoms or clinical deterioration (i.e., unstable psychosis, homicidality, or suicidality) within the last month.