Conditions: Smoking Cessation Acute Coronary Syndrome
Keywords: Smoking Mood Management Depression Behavioral Activation Acute Coronary Syndrome Myocardial Infarction
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 65
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Smoking and depressed mood are both predictive of mortality following Acute Coronary Syndrome. However, to date, no counseling treatment has been designed to target smoking cessation and manage mood in this population. This trial will test such a treatment based on Behavioral Activation, an approach that has shown promise as an integrated treatment for smoking and mood management in other populations.

Detailed description:
The occurrence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS; unstable angina, ST and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction) can be conceptualized as a "teachable moment," whereby patients may be more receptive to smoking cessation messages. Continued smoking following ACS is an independent predictor of mortality. Depressed mood post-ACS is also predictive of mortality, and smokers with depressed mood are less likely to abstain from smoking following an ACS hospitalization. Thus, a single, integrated treatment that targets both depressed mood and smoking could be highly effective in reducing post-ACS mortality. Behavioral Activation (BA) may be an ideal treatment for this population as BA can easily integrate both mood and smoking cessation related goals and it focuses on addressing restriction of valued activities, which is common in the post-ACS population.

Thus, the overall aim of the current study is test a BA treatment manual that integrates smoking cessation and mood management for post-ACS smokers (Behavioral Activation Treatment for cardiac patients who smoke; BAT-CS). We will conduct an RCT (N=72) comparing BAT-CS (1 in-hospital session and 5-9 post-discharge sessions) to Standard Care (SC; 1 in-hospital session and 5 mailed packets of printed self-help materials). Differences in smoking cessation, depressed mood, and positive affect will be compared between conditions.

Arms:
arm 1: Behavioral Activation Treatment for cardiac patients who smoke (BAT-CS). Participant will receive (a) 1 hour of standard smoking cessation counseling in the hospital and (b) 5 to 9 Behavioral Activation (BA) counseling sessions focused on cessation and mood management after they leave the hospital. BA sessions will occur over the 12 weeks after hospital discharge. An 8 week supply of the nicotine patch will be provided if the patient is cleared by their MD. arm 2: Participant will receive (a) 1 hour of standard smoking cessation counseling in the hospital and (b) 5 packets of printed self-help materials for smoking cessation mailed 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after hospital discharge. An 8 week supply of the nicotine patch will be provided if the patient is cleared by their MD.

Interventions: intervention 1: Behavioral Activation (BA) intervention 2: Standard Smoking Cessation Counseling intervention 3: Nicotine patch intervention 4: Printed Self-help materials for Smoking Cessation
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 5 to 9 Behavioral Activation (BA) counseling sessions focused on cessation and mood management. BA sessions will occur over the 12 weeks after hospital discharge. intervention 2: 1 hour of in hospital counseling based on clinical guidelines intervention 3: An 8 week supply of the nicotine patch will be provided if the patient is cleared by their MD. intervention 4: None

Protocol document: