Episodic Future Thinking, Loss Aversion and Cigarette Smoking

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT · Oct 26, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a technique called "Episodic Future Thinking" might affect how people feel about losing something, which is known as loss aversion, and how it relates to smoking cigarettes. The researchers want to see if thinking about positive future events can help change smoking habits in adults who smoke daily. The trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to include adults aged 21 and older who smoke at least five cigarettes a day and want to quit, although they are not currently trying to stop or using medications to help them quit.

To participate, individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and they need to be comfortable reading and writing in English. They should also have a breath carbon monoxide level above 8 parts per million, which indicates recent smoking. However, those currently seeking treatment for quitting smoking or using other forms of tobacco, as well as individuals with certain health conditions, will not be eligible. Participants can expect to take part in a controlled laboratory setting, where their smoking behavior and thoughts about the future will be examined. This study could help develop better strategies for helping people quit smoking.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
• Inclusion criteria:
• • 1. Adult ≥ age 21 years.
• • 2. Able to provide informed, written consent.
• • 3. Smoke an average of at least five (5) cigarettes per day for at least one year.
• • 4. Breath CO levels \> 8 ppm. If breath CO is less than 8 ppm, we will administer a urine test (NicAlert Strip) and include if result is greater than 2.
• • 5. Desire to quit smoking, but not actively trying to quit or currently taking medications to aid smoking cessation (e.g, varenicline, bupropion).
• • 6. US citizen or a permanent resident alien with a green card
• • 7. Comfortable reading and writing in English
• Exclusion criteria:
• • 1. Currently seeking treatment for smoking cessation.
• • 2. Use of tobacco products other than traditional combusted cigarettes on more than 9 of the previous 30 days
• • 3. Positive urine toxicological screen for illicit drug use (i.e., amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, opiates, methadone, oxycodone, phencyclidine).
• • a. A positive test for marijuana (THC) will not result in exclusion from the study.
• • d) Breath alcohol level (BAL) at \<.01 (Alco-Sensor IV, Intoximeter, Inc., St Louis, MO) at intake.
• • a. Participants failing the toxicological screen will be allowed to re-screened for the study. These participants will complete the informed consent process an additional time before being re-screened.
• • e) Recent or current psychiatric episode to be determined with DSM-V criteria. f) Non-correctable vision or hearing impairments. g) Inability to independently read and comprehend written materials (consent form, other study materials and measures).
• • h) Currently pregnant (to be determined with a pregnancy test) or trying to become pregnant.
• • i) Currently breastfeeding. j) Exclusive use of "roll your own" cigarettes.