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Safety and Effectiveness of Sustained Release Bupropion in Treating Individuals With Schizophrenia Who Smoke

Nicotine and Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00307203
Enrollment
51
Registered
2006-03-27
Start date
1998-08-31
Completion date
2004-02-29
Last updated
2017-01-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Psychotic Disorders, Schizophrenia, Tobacco-Use Disorder

Keywords

Bupropion, Zyban, Wellbutrin, Smoking cessation, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Brief summary

Many individuals with schizophrenia smoke cigarettes. Individuals in the schizophrenic population often find it difficult to quit smoking. The purpose of this trial is to determine the safety and effectiveness of bupropion in treating individuals with schizophrenia who smoke.

Detailed description

Schizophrenia affects 1 % of the population. Among individuals with schizophrenia, between 74 and 92 % smoke cigarettes regularly. Heavy smoking represents a significant and neglected public health problem for people with schizophrenia; smoking cessation treatment is often overlooked as part of the psychiatric care for such individuals. The most effective treatment for smoking cessation described to date is sustained release (SR) bupropion. Past research suggests that SR bupropion may be especially effective in individuals with depressive symptoms, including individuals with schizophrenia. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SR bupropion, when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in individuals with schizophrenia. This trial will last 12 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive SR bupropion or placebo. All participants will receive weekly CBT. Participants will be followed for 3 months following completion of the 12-week treatment session.

Interventions

Participants were randomly assigned to receive bupropion SR 150 mg or placebo, once daily for 7 days, then twice daily for 11 weeks.

Participants attended a 12-session, 1-hour, weekly smoking cessation group program with 3 to 7 participants led by a psychologist with tobacco treatment specialist training. Subjects set a quit date, and nicotine patches (Habitrol) and nicotine polacrilex gum (Nicorette) were initiated in the fourth week.

DRUGnicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine patch was dosed at 21 mg/d for 4 weeks, 14 mg/d for 2 weeks, and 7 mg/d for 2 weeks, then discontinued. Nicotine gum (2 mg) was distributed for use as needed for craving up to 18 mg/d.

Sponsors

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Lead SponsorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Meets DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * Receiving a stable dose of antipsychotic medication for at least 1 month prior to study entry * Smokes at least 10 cigarettes per day * Wishes to stop smoking * Attended last three scheduled clinic visits, prior to study entry

Exclusion criteria

* Significant medical or neurologic illness * History of severe head injury with loss of consciousness * Treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or carbamazepine in the 14 days prior to study entry * Taking clozapine at doses greater than 500 mg/d without an anticonvulsant * Currently undergoing an acute exacerbation of psychotic symptoms * Current or history of bulimia or anorexia * Current excessive water intake * Recent history of mania * Known allergy or hypersensitivity to bupropion * Current substance abuse other than tobacco, nicotine replacement treatment, or smokeless tobacco * Currently receiving treatment with bupropion * Pregnant or breastfeeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
seven-day point prevalence of smoking reduction, defined as 50 % reduction in serum cotinine levels compared to baselineend of treatment

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
continuous smoking reduction (50 % reduction in weekly expired air carbon monoxide (CO) measurements compared to baseline and self report)end of treatment
continuous tobacco abstinence (weekly expired CO measurements less than 9 ppm and self report)end of treatment
psychotic symptomscontinuous and end of treatment
measures of attention and memory while attempting to quit smokingend of treatment
negative and depressive symptoms compared to baseline at the end of the 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up phasescontinuous and end of treatment
health-related quality at the end of the 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up phasescontinuous and end of treatment
weight gain at the end of the 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up phasescontinuous and end of treatment
negative side effectscontinuous

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026