Examining Yoga's Effects on Smoking

NCT ID: NCT02181179

Last Updated: 2017-10-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-07-31

Study Completion Date

2017-07-31

Brief Summary

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The primary aim of this research study is to examine the effects of an 8-week yoga program on aspects related to nicotine dependence, stress, and coping during a smoking quit attempt.

Guided by initial studies reporting on the effects of yoga on putative mediators of smoking relapse (i.e., cortisol, distress intolerance, withdrawal symptoms), the proposed experiment examines the effects of an 8-week yoga practice on nicotine withdrawal intensity by way of aiding withdrawal characteristics predictive of smoking relapse. The long-term objectives of the proposed line of research are to: (1) inform theoretical models of nicotine withdrawal, (2) guide the development of effective alternative interventions for smokers susceptible to relapse during the critical withdrawal period (i.e., smokers low in distress tolerance), and (3) to help guide behavioral strategies for treating substance addictions broadly.

Detailed Description

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As the leading cause of preventable death in the US and a major cause for chronic disease/mortality worldwide, smoking represents a major public health issue in need of effective interventions to reduce its burden. The development of such strategies is best directed by basic research on the biobehavioral processes underlying smoking maintenance and relapse. A major predictor of cessation failure is nicotine withdrawal, especially among individuals low in distress tolerance (DT).

Reducing nicotine withdrawal-related distress and relapse in low DT smokers may require the regulation of certain hormones involved in the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA-axis) (i.e., the human stress response). Regular practice of yoga, a mindfulness-based form of physical activity, emerges as a promising strategy for regulating the HPA-axis, decreasing withdrawal symptoms, and increasing DT, thus promoting smoking cessation success.

We will randomly assign 50 smokers (≥10 cigarettes daily) low in DT to either an 8-week yoga intervention \[YOGA\] or a waitlist control \[WL\] prior to undergoing a self-guided quit attempt. We hypothesize participants assigned to the yoga condition (relative to waitlist) will differ on various outcomes assessed throughout the intervention (e.g., quit status, negative affective states, stress, hormonal changes, withdrawal) and, quit day, and throughout the 2-week quit follow-up period.

More specifically, we hypothesize that certain typical maladaptive, during-withdrawal changes may be attenuated through YOGA. We also hope to obtain initial effect sizes of the advantage of yoga compared to waitlist for point-prevalent abstinence at two weeks following an unaided quit attempt.

Conditions

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Yoga Waitlist

Keywords

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yoga exercise intervention smoking stress mind-body intervention

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Yoga

This will involve participating in at least two 60-minute Vinyasa yoga sessions each week for eight weeks (weeks 1-8). This will begin the week following a baseline laboratory appointment. These sessions will be conducted at a local Austin studio that has numerous locations in the area.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Yoga

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The yoga intervention will be an 8-week program involving two 60-minute sessions each week at a local studio with three locations in Austin. Participants will be instructed to take classes deemed within a moderate-to-vigorous intensity dose. Participants will also be encouraged both by the PI and yoga instructors to complete the entire 60 minutes of yoga, urged to do only what is comfortable and not push themselves beyond their physical limits.

Waitlist

If randomized to this group, participants will complete weekly assessments only and not yoga during their time in the study. Following full completion of the study (i.e., after week 10), participants will be compensated with a voucher for 2 free months of yoga.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Yoga

The yoga intervention will be an 8-week program involving two 60-minute sessions each week at a local studio with three locations in Austin. Participants will be instructed to take classes deemed within a moderate-to-vigorous intensity dose. Participants will also be encouraged both by the PI and yoga instructors to complete the entire 60 minutes of yoga, urged to do only what is comfortable and not push themselves beyond their physical limits.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Hatha yoga vinyasa yoga

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Female only patients ages 18-65 capable of providing informed consent
* Daily smoker for at least one year.
* Currently smoke an average of at least 10 cigarettes per day.
* Sedentary as defined by moderate-intensity exercise less than 2 days/wk for at least 30 minutes each
* Written physician approval/medical clearance to participate in an exercise/yoga protocol.

-Report motivation to quit smoking of at least 5 on a 10-point Likert-type scale - -Express interest in making a serious, unassisted quit attempt in the next month-

* Have not decreased number of cigarettes smoked in the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

* Use of other tobacco products
* Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40)
* Currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant
* Diagnosis of a schizophrenia or bipolar-spectrum disorder
* Currently suicidal or suicide high-risk or severe depression
* Use of corticosteroid medications
* Change in medication doses for past 6-months for psychotropic drugs
* Receiving concurrent psychotherapy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Texas at Austin

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Johnna Medina, M.A.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Texas at Austin

Locations

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University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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2014040107

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id