NCT03904186

Brief Summary

Smokers living with HIV represent a major health disparity population in the United States and the world more generally. Major contributing factors to the maintenance and relapse of smoking among smokers living with HIV include increased exposure to multiple stressors associated with HIV, which often exacerbates anxiety/depression. In a previous project, the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a 9-session, cognitive-behavioral-based intervention to address smoking cessation by reducing anxiety and depression via specific emotional vulnerabilities (anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and anhedonia) was tested against an enhanced standard of care in a pilot randomized controlled trial (NCT01393301). It was found that when compared to a brief enhanced treatment as usual control, patients in the intervention achieved higher short-term and long-term smoking abstinence rates. In this project, the investigators seek to test this same intervention in a fully powered, 3-arm efficacy/effectiveness trial. The goal of this study is to randomize 180 smokers across three sites to test the efficacy/effectiveness of the intervention at increasing point prevalence abstinence by reducing anxiety and depression at a 1-month follow-up (the end of treatment timepoint/ approximately 1-month post quit day) and a 6-month follow-up (approximately 6-months post quit day).

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
131

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2019

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 3, 2019

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 5, 2019

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 19, 2019

Completed
5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2024

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 28, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

February 9, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

5 years

First QC Date

April 3, 2019

Last Update Submit

February 5, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Tobacco UseTobacco Use DisorderSubstance-Related DisordersNicotineGanglionic StimulantsAutonomic AgentsPeripheral Nervous System AgentsPhysiological Effects of DrugsNicotinic AgonistsCholinergic AgonistsCholinergic AgentsNeurotransmitter AgentsMolecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological ActionHIVAnxiousAnxiety SymptomsDepressive SymptomsQuittingCognitive Behavioral TherapyAnxiety SensitivityDistress IntoleranceAnhedonia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Short-Term Point Prevalence Smoking Abstinence

    Biologically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA). Using the timeline follow-back method (TLFB), participants will self-report the last time they smoked. TLFB results will be biologically verified with carbon monoxide analysis of breath samples (if stated abstinence is between 24 hours and 2 weeks), saliva cotinine (if stated abstinence is 2+ weeks and participant is currently using nicotine replacement therapy), or urine anabasine (if stated abstinence is 2+ weeks and participant is not currently using nicotine replacement therapy).

    Time frame: 1-Month Follow-Up (end of treatment/approximately 1-month post quit date)

  • Long-Term Point Prevalence Smoking Abstinence

    Biologically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA). Using the timeline follow-back method (TLFB), participants will self-report the last time they smoked. TLFB results will be biologically verified with carbon monoxide analysis of breath samples (if stated abstinence is between 24 hours and 2 weeks), saliva cotinine (if stated abstinence is 2+ weeks and participant is currently using nicotine replacement therapy), or urine anabasine (if stated abstinence is 2+ weeks and participant is not currently using nicotine replacement therapy).

    Time frame: 6-Month Follow-Up (approximately 6-months post quit date)

Study Arms (3)

QUIT Treatment for Smoking Cessation and Distress Tolerance

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this intervention arm will receive a Cognitive-Behavioral therapy-based intervention for smoking cessation in people living with HIV.

Behavioral: QUIT

Time and Intensity-Match Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this control arm will receive an intervention matched in time and intensity with the experimental arm.

Behavioral: Time-Matched Control (TM)

Standard of Care

NO INTERVENTION

At each clinic, routine assessment of smoking status occurs at least annually for patients receiving care, but prescription for pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation and referral for behavioral smoking cessation services are rare. Patients will receive the standard of care at the clinic they attend. SOC patients will also attend the first session that participants in the other sessions receive (pre-randomization), will come to the clinic for assessment only during the weeks lining up with sessions 6-10 for the other conditions, and receive the transdermal nicotine patch for 8 weeks.

Interventions

QUITBEHAVIORAL

QUIT is a transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based smoking cessation protocol designed to address distress intolerance, anxiety sensitivity, and anhedonia in people living with HIV who smoke. QUIT is delivered in 9 60-minute individual weekly sessions over a 10-week period. Sessions are active, with treatment components practiced within and outside of the session. Participants will also receive the transdermal nicotine patch for 8 weeks, starting when they attempt to quit smoking during week 7 of the study.

QUIT Treatment for Smoking Cessation and Distress Tolerance

Participants will receive a standard smoking cessation treatment, based on the clinical practice guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Treatment will be delivered in nine, 60-minute sessions over a ten-week period. The treatment is based on a treatment protocol developed and used previously by Dr. Zvolensky. Because clinical guidelines recommend that all smokers attempting to quit smoking receive pharmacotherapy, participants will also receive the transdermal nicotine patch for 8 weeks.

Time and Intensity-Match Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 79 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • years old
  • Daily Smoker
  • Motivated to quit smoking
  • HIV-positive
  • Capability and willingness to give written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Habitual use of tobacco products other than cigarettes
  • Untreated or unstable psychiatric disorders
  • Current smoking cessation treatment
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety within the past year
  • Insufficient command of the English language

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Fenway Community Health

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Thomas Street Health Center

Houston, Texas, 77009, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Garey L, Wirtz MR, Labbe AK, Zvolensky MJ, Smits JAJ, Giordano TP, Rosenfield D, Robbins GK, Levy DE, McKetchnie SM, Bell T, O'Cleirigh C. Evaluation of an integrated treatment to address smoking cessation and anxiety/depressive symptoms among people living with HIV: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2021 Jul;106:106420. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106420. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeSmoking CessationCigarette SmokingSmokingAnxiety DisordersDepressionTobacco Use DisorderTobacco UseSubstance-Related DisordersAnhedonia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HIV InfectionsBlood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases, ViralSexually Transmitted DiseasesLentivirus InfectionsRetroviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesSlow Virus DiseasesGenital DiseasesUrogenital DiseasesImmunologic Deficiency SyndromesImmune System DiseasesHealth BehaviorBehaviorTobacco SmokingMental DisordersBehavioral SymptomsChemically-Induced DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Jasper Smits, PhD

    University of Texas at Austin

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Michael Zvolensky, PhD

    University of Houston

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor of Psychology

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 3, 2019

First Posted

April 5, 2019

Study Start

December 19, 2019

Primary Completion

December 1, 2024

Study Completion

February 28, 2025

Last Updated

February 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

One year following achievement of aims of the project (i.e., publication of the main outcome paper), de-identified data from this project will be provided to interested individuals. These data will be provided in digital format with clear labels for all variables. Data will be released directly by the investigators providing evidence of their institution's IRB approval for planned analyses of the data. The study team will be available to address queries.

Locations