Anger, Smoking Cessation
Conditions
Brief summary
Problematic anger is a strong predictor of failed attempts at smoking cessation. The investigators proposed study seeks to evaluate whether a novel 8-session computerized anger-reduction treatment improves quit rates among smokers. Smokers with elevated trait anger will be administered transdermal nicotine patch therapy and either anger-reduction treatment or a control intervention. They will be assessed throughout treatment and up until three months after a scheduled mid- treatment quit date. The investigators propose to test whether, compared to the control condition, the anger-reduction treatment will lead to: 1) greater reductions in anger and 2) greater abstinence rates at post-cessation and at follow-up assessments. The investigators will also test whether changes in anger-related symptoms account for group differences in abstinence rates.
Detailed description
The current proposal seeks to evaluate an eight-session, computerized, anger-focused intervention for smokers (Anger Reduction Treatment or ART). The investigators will administer this intervention to smokers (N = 114) who are interested in quitting and have elevated levels of trait anger. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either: (1) computerized ART, consisting of interpretation bias modification, or (2) a computerized control condition, which consists of health education and relaxing video clips. The computerized sessions (eight total) will take place twice a week for four weeks. All participants will have a scheduled quit date for the beginning of the third week of treatment (i.e., at mid-treatment). All participants will also receive nicotine patch therapy to use at their scheduled quit date. Anger symptoms, smoking cravings, and smoking frequency will be assessed throughout treatment. Smoking status, anger, and other measures of negative affect will also be assessed at baseline and regularly for 12-weeks following the scheduled quit date. The investigators will test whether, compared to the control condition, the anger-reduction treatment will lead to: 1) greater reductions in anger and 2) greater abstinence rates at post-cessation and at follow-up assessments. The investigators will also test whether changes in anger-related symptoms account for group differences in abstinence rates.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAnger Reduction Treatment
Eight 30-minute sessions of interpretation modification to reduce angry interpretation biases.
BEHAVIORALControl Condition
Eight 30-minute sessions of informative videos on healthy living and relaxation videos.
Sponsors
Florida State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Elevated levels of trait anger (scoring 22 or higher on the STAXI-trait) * Currently smoking an average of 8 cigarettes per day * Must be a regular (daily) smoker for at least 1 year * Willing to make a serious attempt to quit smoking * Must report motivation to quit in the next month (30 days) of at least 5 on a 10 point scale (0 = no motivation and 10 = extreme motivation) * Have not decreased the number of cigarettes by more than half in the past six months * Must be an English speaker
Exclusion criteria
* Current substance dependence (excluding nicotine dependence) * Current use of other tobacco products * Currently receiving cognitive therapy or therapy for problematic anger * Evidence of serious suicidal intent requiring hospitalization or immediate treatment * Limited mental competency and the inability to give informed, written consent * Evidence of psychotic-spectrum disorders * Changes in medication over the last month
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2; Spielberger, 1999) state and trait subscales | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Self-reported smoking frequency | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Carbon monoxide levels | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| WSAP-Hostility Scale (Dillon, Cougle, & Fincham, 2015) | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (Hughes & Hatsukami, 1986) | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (Tiffany & Drobes, 1991) | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Hostile Automatic Thoughts Scale (Snyder, Crowson, Houston, Kurylo, & Piorier, 1997) | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation |
| Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) | Baseline and regularly for 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
| Clinical Anger Scale (CAS; Snell, Gum, Shuck, Mosley, & Hite, 1995) | up to 14-weeks following treatment initiation. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed