Evidence map›Paper›PMID 11034774›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2000

Anxiolytics for smoking cessation.

J R Hughes, L F Stead, T Lancaster

Open access · greenAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
8.9field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 101 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Interventions for smoking cessation in people diagnosed with lung cancer.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
    Pooled it
  2. Group behaviour therapy programmes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. [Guidelines for smoking cessation - update 2010].Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2011
    Guideline
  7. Interventions for promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2009
    Pooled it
  8. Anxiolytics for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2000
    Pooled it
  9. Trial
  10. Trial
  11. Trial
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Review
  17. Pharmacological Approach to Smoking Cessation: An Updated Review for Daily Clinical Practice.High blood pressure & cardiovascular prevention : the official journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension · 2020
    Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

J R HughesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, 38 Fletcher Place, Burlington, Vermont 05401-1419, USA. john.hughes@uvm.edu
L F Stead
T Lancaster
University of Oxford · GBUniversity of Vermont · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are two reasons to believe anxiolytics might help in smoking cessation. Anxiety may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. Second, smoking appears to be due, in part, to deficits in dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, all of which are increased by anxiolytics and antidepressants.

objectivesThe aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of anxiolytic drugs in aiding long term smoking cessation. The drugs include buspirone; diazepam; doxepin; meprobamate; ondansetron; and the beta-blockers metoprolol, oxprenolol and propanolol. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group trials register which includes trials indexed in Medline, Embase, SciSearch and PsycLit, and meetings abstracts. SELECTION CRITERIA: We considered randomized trials comparing anxiolytic drugs to placebo or an alternative therapeutic control for smoking cessation. We excluded trials with less than 6 months follow-up. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data in duplicate on the type of study population, the nature of the drug therapy, the outcome measures, method of randomisation, and completeness of follow-up. The main outcome measure was abstinence from smoking after at least six months follow-up in patients smoking at baseline. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence for each trial, and biochemically validated rates if available. Where appropriate, we performed meta-analysis using a fixed effects model. MAIN

resultsThere was one trial each of the anxiolytics diazepam, meprobamate, metoprolol and oxprenolol. There were two trials of the anxiolytic buspirone. None of the trials showed strong evidence of an effect for any of these drugs in helping smokers to quit. However, confidence intervals were wide, and an effect of anxiolytics cannot be ruled out on current evidence. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsThere is no consistent evidence that anxiolytics aid smoking cessation, but the available evidence does not rule out a possible effect.

Indexed as

Adrenergic beta-AntagonistsAnti-Anxiety AgentsHumansSmokingSmoking CessationAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsAnti-Anxiety Agents

Identifiers

PMID11034774
PMCPMC8407461
OpenAlexW1947174093

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.