Major depression and PTSD in pregnant smokers enrolled in nicotine gum treatment trial.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Pregnant women face considerable barriers to smoking cessation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and response to smoking cessation treatment in pregnant smokers participating in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of nicotine gum.

METHODS

Participants were 194 low-income, ethnically diverse pregnant smokers.

RESULTS

Utilizing a structured interview, 45% and 18% of the subjects met criteria for a lifetime diagnosis of MDD and PTSD, respectively. There was no difference in response to treatment, based on the presence of either of these psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Cumulatively, these findings provide evidence of the high degree of unmet mental health needs in pregnant smokers.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Pregnant women with a history of MDD and PTSD appear to be as likely to benefit from smoking cessation treatment as those without such a history.