Smoking Cessation Program

Research from the Massachusetts General Hospital Schizophrenia Program and others has shown that, with appropriate treatment, smokers with schizophrenia can successfully quit smoking without worsening of their symptoms of schizophrenia. This work has recently been highlighted in clinical practice guidelines recommending that all people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who smoke and want to quit be offered bupropion with or without nicotine replacement therapy along with behavioral support.

Our recent treatment study with smokers with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder found extended duration varenicline along with behavioral support tripled cessation rates at one year for those who were able to quit for at least two weeks with varenicline and group cognitive behavioral therapy.

We offer a range of smoking cessation services, both routine and through clinical trials.

Our smoking cessation studies are not limited to patients in our psychiatric care at Mass General, they are also available to the public as a health resource through our research program.

This program is a collaboration of the Schizophrenia Program and the Center for Addiction Medicine (CAM).

Learn more about CAM

Research Projects

Current Research Projects

Please contact us to learn about enrolling in our studies.

Integrated Smoking Cessation Treatment for Smokers with Serious Mental Illnesses

Principal Investigator: A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH, 2016—2021
The aim of this study is to study the effectiveness of two practical approaches to improve the health of people with mental illness in the community. The project will test whether tailored education to primary care doctors alone or combined with community health workers will help those with mental illness quit smoking. More than 1,100 patients at 50 Boston area community health clinics will be involved. Bay Cove Human Services and Vinfen, two of the largest mental health service providers in the Commonwealth, will lead the clinical component of this study.

Previous Research

• Extended duration varenicline for prevention of relapse to smoking in people with schizophrenia
• Glycine transport inhibition for nicotine dependence in schizophrenia
• Cooperative drug discovery for the treatment of nicotine dependence