Addressing Psychological Risk Factors Underlying Smoking Persistence in COPD Patients: The Fresh Start Study
Copd, Smoking Cessation, Nicotine Dependence
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Copd focused on measuring COPD, Smoking cessation, Nicotine dependence, Tobacco use, Cigarette smoking, Behavioral treatment
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Eligible participants will be males and females who are:
- Diagnosed with COPD (as documented in electronic health record [EHR]),
- Daily cigarette smokers (5 or more cigarettes per day over past 30 days),
- Intend to quit smoking within the next 60 days,
- Report at least moderate level of smoking for affective regulation (SMQ-R coping subscale score 30 or greater),
- Have access to a smart phone, tablet, or computer, and
- Are able to communicate fluently in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any concurrent medical or psychiatric condition which would preclude ability to provide informed consent or perform study procedures (e.g., moderate to severe dementia and/or severe, uncontrolled schizophrenia), as determined by the treating physician or study PI.
Sites / Locations
- Rush University Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Mindfulness
Interoceptive Exposure (Practice Quitting)
Behavioral Activation (Countering Emotional Behaviors)
This module introduces mindfulness training skills, with the goal of cultivating nonjudgmental, present-focused experience of emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations related to cigarette smoking. By progressing though a series of experiential exercises (e.g., awareness of the breath, anchoring in the present), this module seeks to reduce maladaptive attempts to control negative emotions and facilitate tolerance of the physical and emotional symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
This module introduces interoceptive exposure, a technique in which participants purposefully and systematically complete exercises to evoke physical sensations typically associated with anxiety and distress, in order to reduce fear and avoidance of these sensations. Interoceptive exercises will focus on a gradual exposure to nicotine withdrawal symptoms, through a series of 'practice quit attempts' (i.e., brief periods of smoking abstinence without intention to permanently quit).
This module introduces behavioral activation, which seeks to increase positive emotions by systematically introducing greater engagement with natural rewards. Treatment sessions focus on the identification of avoidance strategies, including cigarette smoking as a coping strategy for negative emotions. The goal of this treatment module is to replace smoking with adaptive coping strategies to facilitate contact with and enjoyment of reinforcing activities that are incompatible with smoking.