Effect of Stress-management and Biofeedback on Craving in Smoking Abstinence: A Pilot Study

Ghent University Hospital (UZ)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Behavioral: breathing technique; Behavioral: behavioral strategies

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01080092

2010/020

Details and patient eligibility

About

Craving is one of the most prominent reasons for relapse after smoking cessation. Mainly pharmacological aids (NRT, bupropion, varenicline) try to counter this condition. This project aims to evaluate the effect of stress-management and a short breathing technique, reinforced by means of visualisation , on the experience of craving in smokers who are prepared to stay abstinent for at least 3 hours before the start of the intervention. It is expected that this strategy can provide supplementary gains in craving control.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• smokers (at least 10 cigarettes/day);
• 18 years of age or older;
• prepared to stay abstinent for 3 hours before the start of the session;
• not prepared to stop smoking;
• Dutch speaking.

Exclusion criteria

• acute health related problems;
• psychiatric co-morbidities;
• quit attempts in the past 3 months;
• participation in other clinical trials.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

breathing technique group

Experimental group

Description:

technique as a stress management technique, reinforced by biofeedback

Treatment:

Behavioral: breathing technique

no breathing technique

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

the control group reads a paper on the properties and components of tobacco and on behavioural strategies to cope with craving

Treatment:

Behavioral: behavioral strategies