Transcranial Doppler in smoking relapse prevention strategy.

Nicotine dependence is a progressive, chronic, relapsing disorder. Nicotine is the principal and most potent psychopharmacologically active component of tobacco smoke. Through activation of nicotine receptors in the central nervous system, nicotine can lead to tolerance and dependence. Cessation of smoking is followed by severe pathophysiologic withdrawal and by long-term craving. TCD measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) and nicotine dependence degree measured by Fragestrom questionnaire was analyzed in relation to smoking relapse. This study includes 47 participants (25 females and 22 males) included in Breathe Free Plan To Stop Smoking in Non Smoking School in Zagreb. 12 month following the end of treatment participants were divided in three groups: continued abstinence, interrupted abstinence and non abstinence. High nicotine dependence combined with TCD pathological finding significantly discriminated successes and failures, suggesting that smokers with pathological TCD need specific therapeutic approach with more social support, individualized coping skills and cognitive restructuring. Measuring cerebral flow velocity by transcranial Doppler in smokers showed the practical validity in prediction of smoking relapse.