Skip to content

Shaping Habitual Impulses For a Tobacco-free Style

Approach Bias Retraining to Augment Long-Term Smoking Cessation Among a Diverse Sample

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07025772
Acronym
SHIFTS
Enrollment
300
Registered
2025-06-17
Start date
2026-03-24
Completion date
2029-02-01
Last updated
2026-04-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

ST+ABR, ST-only, ST+SHAM

Keywords

Approach bias retraining, smoking cessation, cognitive retraining

Brief summary

The present investigation aims to assess the efficacy of an innovative and novel smoking cessation intervention that integrates approach bias retraining (ABR) and standard smoking cessation treatment (ST). Participants will be randomized to either: (1) standard smoking cessation treatment and approach bias retraining (ST+ABR); (2) ST+Sham; or (3) ST-only.

Detailed description

The study employs a randomized controlled design to follow 300 individuals who smoke cigarettes as they engage in a smoking quit attempt following standard smoking cessation treatment (ST). Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: (1) ST+ABR; (2) ST+Sham; or (3) ST-only. Participants will complete a self-screener, baseline appointment, 7 weeks of smoking cessation treatment, combined with approach bias retraining (if applicable) in the laboratory (with the quit day scheduled for the 6th session), 2x daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) for 4-weeks following their quit day, and 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups in the laboratory.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALST+ABR

ST+ABR participants will complete seven weekly sessions of 15 minutes of computerized training (ABR), followed by a 45-minute session of standard smoking cessation treatment (CBT+NRT). Participants will be instructed to pull or push a joystick depending on the tilt, which will be positive-related or smoking-related images.

BEHAVIORALST+Sham

ST+Sham participants will complete seven weekly sessions of 15 minute computerized control sessions (AAT), followed by a 45-minute session of standard smoking cessation treatment (CBT+NRT). Participants will be instructed to pull or push a joystick depending on the tilt, which will be positive-related or smoking-related images.

BEHAVIORALST Only

ST Only will consist of 7 weekly 45-minute sessions of standard treatment (CBT+NRT) for smoking cessation.

Sponsors

University of Houston
Lead SponsorOTHER
University of Texas at Austin
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* At least 18 years of age * Ability to speak English fluently * Ability to read English fluently * Ability to write in English fluently * Biochemical verification of self-reported smoking status following minimum study specified smoking rate endorsement * Motivated to quit smoking * Willing to attend in-person visits * Provide written informed consent, accepting study inclusion criteria and the randomized group assignment * English literacy of 7th grade or higher, as indicated by a score of 4 or greater on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form (REALM-SF)

Exclusion criteria

* Having used an e-cigarette in the past 3 months * Having initiated any mental health therapy or pharmacotherapy within the past 3 months * Being currently in therapy for substance abuse (including nicotine dependence) * Being currently enrolled in any other studies at the RESTORE lab to help quit smoking * Currently using any NRT or psychotherapy products for nicotine cessation * Currently using Bupropion as a smoking cessation aid and antidepressant * Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant * Having high blood pressure that is not under control * Having a heart attack within the past 2 weeks * Having Visual impairments * Hand-motoric impairments * Currently suicidal or high suicide risk or current or past psychotic disorders of any type, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, anorexia, bulimia assessed using the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview * Cognitive impairment, verified via a score of ≥8 on the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
7-day Biochemically Verified Point Prevalence Abstinence (PPA)1-week, 2-week, 3-week post-quit, and 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-upsPPA will be defined as no cigarette smoking within the past 7 days of assessments and will be biochemically verified via assessment of expired carbon monoxide.
Prolonged Abstinence (PA)3-week post-quit, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-upsParticipants will self report their abstinence by reporting whether or not they have smoked since their quit date following a 2-week grace period.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTLorra Garey, PhD
llgarey@central.uh.edu713-743-8056
CONTACTAshley Ruiz, B.S.
alruiz3@central.uh.edu713-743-8056

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 18, 2026