Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Individuals with Mental Health Disorders

Individuals with mental health disorders are more likely to use tobacco, often have greater difficulty during quit attempts, and are at greater risk for relapse than those in the general population. Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches enhance tobacco use cessation interventions for individuals with mental health disorders by improving affect regulation skills and nicotine withdrawal symptoms associated with quit attempts. Acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment of mental health disorders and substance use disorders, including nicotine dependence. We review the evidence for acceptance and mindfulness-based tobacco cessation interventions and their application for individuals with co-occurring nicotine dependence and mental health disorders. In addition, we present a case example of an acceptance and mindfulness-based tobacco cessation intervention for an individual with posttraumatic stress disorder. Finally, we discuss the need for further study and advancement of acceptance and mindfulness-based tobacco cessation interventions for individuals with mental health disorders, and we provide suggestions for future research in this promising area.