Early Withdrawal Exposure and Negative Affect Withdrawal (NAW) Regulation Training for Smoking Cessation
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary
Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, accounting for approximately half a million deaths every year. The current study will investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of change of a novel smoking cessation intervention. The current study will thus provide essential information regarding a treatment that has the potential to enhance the efficacy of existing smoking cessation interventions, thereby having a beneficial impact on the public health of the United States.
Description
Cigarette smoking remains the single most preventable cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Long-term abstinence rates for even the most rigorous of smoking cessation treatments range between 20% and 35%. It is therefore essential that research continue to investigate novel smoking cessation interventions. Leading contemporary theories of addiction motivation posit that the escape or avoidance of negative affect withdrawal (NAW) symptoms (e.g., anger, anxiety, and depression/sadness) constitutes a strong motivational basis for cigarette smoking and plays a critical role in rel…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * at least 18 years of age * smoke at least 5 cigarettes per day * Expired breath carbon monoxide (CO) reading of at least five parts per million * report the intention to quit * reside in the Birmingham area with no plan to relocate outside of the area in the next 6 months * access to a telephone Exclusion Criteria: * inability to speak English * presence of a condition that contraindicates use of the nicotine patch * presence of conditions that might interfere with compliance with the protocol or greatly complicate treatment * any acutely life-threatening disease * con…
Interventions
- Behavioralcognitive-behavioral withdrawal regulation strategies
Participants will generate and refine individualized withdrawal regulation strategies with the aid of a therapist
- Behavioralrelaxation strategies
Participants will generate and refine relaxation techniques with the aid of a therapist
- Behavioralearly withdrawal exposure
Exposure to the first 4 hours of abstinence across 4 separate sessions
Location
- Ryals Public Health BuildingBirmingham, Alabama