A game for smokers: A preliminary naturalistic trial in a psychiatric hospital

Objective: "Pick-Klop" is a game based on cognitive behavioral therapy. It aims to change smokers' attitudes towards tobacco addiction. This study tests the feasibility and the impact of one brief session of the intervention in a naturalistic setting within a psychiatric hospital. Method: Fifty-one smokers were recruited during their stay in a psychiatric hospital with a prohibitive smoking policy. They were assessed pre-and post-treatment with visual analogue scales designed to evaluate their intention to stop smoking. Results: All patients completed the intervention. The outcome shows that the intention to stop smoking becomes significantly stronger after the intervention. Conclusion: This pilot study supports the feasibility and the effectiveness of the "Pick-Klop" game in a psychiatric hospital setting. The game seems to improve the intention to quit smoking. The data, however, should be confirmed by a controlled trial. Moreover, follow-up studies are needed to examine the potential impact of the game on smoking cessation attempts. Practical implications: The game seems to be a useful and simple tool for education about smoking in a psychiatric hospital setting. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.