Issues in running smoking cessation groups with forensic psychiatric inpatients: Results of a pilot study and lessons learnt

Although smoking is a major health problem among forensic psychiatric inpatient populations, a multitude of factors (motivational, environmental, procedural and psychiatric) militate against effective treatment. Despite this, few studies have reported on the use of population- appropriate treatment approaches. This pilot study reports the results of group and individual treatments involving combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioural treatment. The importance of selecting patients with some skills in emotional regulation is highlighted, along with ways of reducing institutional obstacles to change and maximising environmental support for quit attempts.