Barbara Bętkowska-Korpała, Jolanta Ryniak, Barbara Zawadzka, Piotr Jankowski, Marek Kuźniewski, Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz

Program grupowej terapii psychologicznej w kompleksowym leczeniu osób uzależnionych od nikotyny w ramach prewencji chorób układu krążenia — doświadczenia własne   69

A group psychotherapy programme in the complex treatment of patients addicted to nicotine, conducted in the course of cardiovascular disorder prevention — personal experience                 69

Summary:

This original programme of psychological therapy within the comprehensive management of tobacco dependence can be used in psychotherapy centres and other institutions for the management of dependence. In the course of psychological therapy, patients build and enhance their internal motivation to quit smoking as well as they learn to identify personal mechanisms of dependence and techniques to prevent recurrences. They also learn how to deal with nicotine urge and daily stress. Generally, they gain more self-awareness and motivation to start a healthy life. The immediate effects of comprehensive management were a discontinuation of smoking by 80.4%, reduction of the number of smoked cigarettes by at least 50% by 14.3% of the participants. In 5.2% of the participants therapy did not produce the desired results. The findings of the present study indicate that pharmacotherapy combined with psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment of nicotine abuse in the context of immediate and long-term effects.