Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis
This review (18 studies; n=1437) found varenicline, bupropion and NRT were all superior to placebo for smoking abstinence. Network meta-analysis found varenicline superior to bupropion (RR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.93; p=0.038), with no significant differences between any other pairs.
Source:
The Lancet Psychiatry
SPS commentary:
A related comment notes that the results of this analysis should help support increased prescribing of these medicines. As all three treatment options were better than placebo, this allows a discussion around patient preference and offers alternatives if the first medication is ineffective. As most of the studies were of low quality and short duration, and as this population is at a heightened risk for rapid relapse after medication discontinuation, higher quality studies with longer-term follow-up are required, as are studies addressing difference combinations, to enable optimisation of pharmacological strategies.