Puff Biofeedback to Reduce Smoking Reinforcement
Condition: Cigarette Smoking
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of a novel bio-behavioral paradigm,
      entitled, Puff Topography Biofeedback Training, compared to a control condition, in reducing
      stress-induced smoking reinforcement.
    

Detailed description: 
      Smokers with emotional distress are particularly vulnerable to smoking reinforcement due to
      various biopsychological factors that contribute to deficits in emotion regulation and
      heightened reward processing, which undermine cessation efforts. Differences in puffing
      behavior may correspond with changes in cardiorespiratory parameters that may promote
      self-regulation and reduce craving.

      This study is a between-subjects experimental test of Puff Topography Biofeedback Training
      (PTBT) and its ability to modify puff topography and cardiorespiratory activity during
      stress-precipitated smoking, and in turn, reduce acute smoking reinforcement.

      Participants will be randomized to either PTBT or a Control condition and will complete two
      smoking trials on two successive days. The first smoking trial (Visit 1) will allow
      participants to gain familiarity with the task. The second smoking trial (Visit 2) will be
      completed following acute laboratory stress induction (stress-precipitated smoking trial).

      The primary study aims are to test the effect of PTBT vs. Control as assessed via acute
      changes in stress-precipitated smoking reinforcement and changes in puffing behavior and
      cardiorespiratory parameters.The results of this high pre-intervention study could inform the
      subsequent development of a novel intervention strategy for improving quit outcomes in a
      treatment-resistant population.

      The primary study aims are to test the effect of PTBT vs. Control in terms of: (a) objective
      puff topography parameters; (b) subjective reinforcement; and (c) whether physiological
      indices reflective of smoking reinforcement differ between conditions.
    

Intervention name(s): Puff Topography Biofeedback Training; Control
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Visit 1: Participants will be asked to smoke their usual brand cigarette using the CReSS smoking topography device. Participants will be instructed on how to follow visual and auditory puffing prompts provided to them by a computer program in order to control puffing behavior for a duration of five minutes.
Visit 2: Participants will be instructed to smoke their cigarette using the CReSS device and instructions provided during Visit 1 after undergoing a brief laboratory stress induction.; Visit 1: Participants will be instructed to smoke their usual brand cigarette using the CReSS smoking topography device while passively viewing time-matched control stimulus presented to them on a computer monitor for a duration of five minutes.
Visit 2: Participants will be instructed to smoke their cigarette using the CReSS device and instructions provided during Visit 1 after undergoing a brief laboratory stress induction.
Other intervention name(s): Attention Control
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Smoking; Cigarette; Stress; Distress