Smokers with ADHD may find it harder to quit smoking. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York found in a study that people who have hyperactivity and impulsivity — two of the traits associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — were less likely to successfully quit smoking than those without these traits.
The study involved 583 adult smokers, of whom 43 had ADHD. During the eight weeks of the study, participants were treated with Zyban (a drug that aids in smoking cessation), as well as the nicotine patch and cessation counselling.
After eight weeks, those with elevated hyperactivity and impulsivity showed lower quit rates. Inattention, another trait involved in ADHD, was not a factor in success rates.
