“Kong et al. (2015). Re-training automatic actin tendencies to approach cigarettes among adolescent smokers: A pilot study.” – Article summary

Most smokers start during adolescence. Many adolescent smokers want to quit but the majority of them are unsuccessful. The dual process theory states that addiction may be related to an imbalance between the fast associative impulsive processes (1) and slower reflective processes (2).

The combination of strong impulsive and weak reflective processes result in susceptibility to cues triggering the addictive behaviour. This leads to difficulties in inhibiting the tendency to engage in the addictive behaviour. The implicit processes may be stronger among adolescents because impulse control processes have not been fully developed while emotional and reward-seeking processes are most active.

A treatment aimed to modify approach bias towards cigarettes did not modify this. However, it appeared to improve smoking cessation outcomes. Regardless of the type of treatment (i.e. CBM or CBT), there was an overall decrease of cigarettes smoked. Both treatments appeared to have reduced the approach bias toward substance use for people who already had an approach bias towards substance use. The change in approach bias is moderated by the strength of the approach bias prior to treatment (i.e. baseline). The stronger the approach bias prior to treatment, the greater the decrease in approach bias will be.