Purpose:  To test the effects of a cognitive-behavioral group and telephone intervention during and after pregnancy on women’s self-reported smoking and quit rates, nicotine dependence, urine cotinine, and mental health measures.

 Methods:  A quasi-experimental, two-group repeated measures design was used.  Data were collected at baseline, one month after the group intervention and two and four months postpartum. The treatment group (n = 11) received the intervention during and immediately after pregnancy. The control group (n = 5) only responded to in-person interviews. Mental health measures included two depressive symptoms scales (CES-D and BDI), negative thinking (CCI), and chronic stressors (ESI). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and group comparisons were made using two-sample t-tests or chi-square tests.

 Results:  While the two treatment groups were similar on all demographics and outcome variables at baseline, the intervention group had fewer depressive symptoms (for both CES-D and BDI) and thoughts of hopelessness (a subscale of the CCI) than the controls at the first post-intervention interview. Cigarette use, nicotine dependence, and urine cotinine did not change significantly from baseline to the first post-intervention interview. Subject attrition postpartum precluded quantitative analysis of data collected at the third and fourth interview.

 Conclusion: This exploratory study supports the effectiveness of a mental health intervention in decreasing depressive symptoms and hopelessness among pregnant smokers. A larger trial is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this integrated mental health intervention in promoting quit attempts and smoking abstinence in these at-risk women.