In order to determine whether baseline depression was related to initial success or failure in smoking cessation, we prospectively examined mood self-ratings in a pilot study of 43 unselected smokers attempting to quit smoking in an outpatient program. Mean pretreatment POMS depression scores in the subjects who were unable to quit were significantly higher compared to those successful in initially relinquishing smoking. These preliminary results suggest that a negative-affect group at high risk for failure in nicotine dependence treatment might be identified in advance by an assessment of mood done prior to treatment.