Comparing Two Behavioral Approaches to Quitting Smoking in Mental Health Settings

NCT ID: NCT05030272

Last Updated: 2026-01-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 343 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-09-21
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-30

Brief Summary

The study team will conduct a Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two approaches for quitting smoking among people with serious mental illness (SMI). The study will compare a novel app tailored to people with SMI, Quit on the Go, to a standard of care smoking cessation intervention. We will test the effectiveness of the Quit on the Go app, an intervention that has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability in the target population, as a tool for smoking cessation in people with SMI. Participants with SMI will be recruited across 3 sites (Duke University, Univ. at Buffalo, and Wake Forest University).

Detailed Description

Smoking tobacco shortens the lifespan of adults with serious mental illness by 25 years and contributes to 317 billion dollar expenditures in healthcare, indirect loss of earnings and disability benefits. Determining whether it is possible to deliver more effective and wider reaching smoking cessation interventions to individuals with serious mental illness is a high priority. Smartphone apps are a wide-reaching technology that could provide individuals with serious mental illness the necessary skills for quitting. However, our research has shown that apps developed for the general public have inadequate levels usability and engagement in people with serious mental illness.

In a previous pilot trial of a tailored smoking cessation app for people with serious mental illness, Learn to Quit (NCT03069482), we identified successful recruitment and retention methods for smokers with SMI, demonstrated a 4-fold increase in objectively measured interactions of the novel app, obtained promising cessation rates for the experimental app (12% for Quit on the Go formerly "Learn to Quit" versus 3% for NCI QuitGuide), and identified a reliable methodological approach to conduct a fully-powered randomized controlled trial.

Based on this pilot work, we plan to conduct a clinical trial to test this new model in a diverse and representative sample of the SMI population. Specifically, the proposed trial will test whether a tailored smoking cessation app for people with serious mental illness, Quit on the Go, results in higher levels of smoking abstinence compared to a standard of care intervention for this psychiatric population, Brief Advice. Both interventions will receive combined nicotine replacement therapy. The second aim of this trial is to test a mechanistic model of app efficacy by examining mediators of app engagement and treatment outcomes. Finally, the trial will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these interventions to inform public health policy regard the use of mHealth in this population.

In a multi-site, two-arm randomized controlled trial, 450 individuals with serious mental illness will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In the experimental condition, participants will use the Quit on the Go app. In the comparator condition, participants will receive Brief Advice for smoking cessation. Participants in both conditions will receive combined Nicotine Replacement Therapy (standard dosing of nicotine patch plus 5 week course of nicotine gums). Study duration will be 6 months, with 3 follow-up appointments at 1-month, 3-month, and 6-months. Our proposed methods are appropriate given our established procedures during our pilot trial regard to participant assignment, delivery of interventions, data collection and analysis (NCT03069482).

The proposed study meets NIDA's major programmatic priorities of using innovative technologies (e.g., smartphones) and integrating behavioral and pharmacological interventions to improve substance use treatment and outcomes (NOT-DA-10-019). The proposal addresses a serious problem -- high smoking rates in people with SMI -- in a high priority, high cost population, by delivering a novel behavioral intervention for smoking cessation in "real-world" settings. If shown to be effective, the proposed intervention will provide a new model for delivering inexpensive, widely accessible smoking cessation interventions in adults with SMI.

Conditions

Tobacco Use Disorder; Mental Illness; Recurring Major Depressive Disorder; Bipolar Disorder; Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder; Persistent Depressive Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

"Quit on the Go" (formerly "Learn to Quit")

A smartphone app developed by the research team designed for people with serious mental illness, that provides Acceptance and Commitment Therapy skills to address (a) smoking cessation and (b) mental health symptoms. This app intervention is combined with an 8-week course of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches and a 5-10 week course of NRT gum (or Nicotine Lozenges if unable to use gum). Participants also receive technical smartphone coaching for the first 4 weeks of the study.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Quit on the Go App (formerly "Learn to Quit " App)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

A smartphone app developed by the research team designed for people with serious mental illness, that provides Acceptance and Commitment Therapy skills to address (a) smoking cessation and (b) mental health symptoms.

Nicotine patch

Intervention Type: DRUG

All participants will receive an 8-week course of transdermal nicotine patches. The first 4 weeks of use will be 21mg/24 hours, followed by 2 weeks of 14mg/24 hours patches, and finally 2 weeks of 7mg/24 hours patches.

Smartphone coaching

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized to the smartphone app intervention will receive 4 weeks of smartphone coaching given by research staff. The coaching is meant to be a time to address any issues that may rise with the participants' study smartphone or app.

Nicotine gum

Intervention Type: DRUG

Each participant enrolled will be given NRT gum (5-10week course) to be taken orally as nicotine cravings arise. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) gum pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Nicotine Lozenges

Intervention Type: DRUG

In cases where participants are unable to chew nicotine gum, lozenges will be sent as a replacement of Nicotine gum. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) lozenge pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Brief Advice (Standard of Care)

Brief Advice and Combined Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches and gum or lozenges) has been recommended by the US Clinical Practice Guidelines for patients with psychiatric illness. Brief Advice will consist of 20 minutes of guidance about the use of nicotine replacement therapy, and strategies to initiate and maintain a quit attempt. The intervention is combined with an 8-week course of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches and a 5-10 week course of NRT gum (or Nicotine Lozenges if unable to use gum).

Group Type: OTHER

Brief advice

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Brief Advice will consist of 20 minutes of guidance about the use of nicotine replacement therapy, and strategies to initiate and maintain a quit attempt.

Nicotine patch

Intervention Type: DRUG

All participants will receive an 8-week course of transdermal nicotine patches. The first 4 weeks of use will be 21mg/24 hours, followed by 2 weeks of 14mg/24 hours patches, and finally 2 weeks of 7mg/24 hours patches.

Nicotine gum

Intervention Type: DRUG

Each participant enrolled will be given NRT gum (5-10week course) to be taken orally as nicotine cravings arise. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) gum pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Nicotine Lozenges

Intervention Type: DRUG

In cases where participants are unable to chew nicotine gum, lozenges will be sent as a replacement of Nicotine gum. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) lozenge pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Interventions

Quit on the Go App (formerly "Learn to Quit " App)

A smartphone app developed by the research team designed for people with serious mental illness, that provides Acceptance and Commitment Therapy skills to address (a) smoking cessation and (b) mental health symptoms.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Brief advice

Brief Advice will consist of 20 minutes of guidance about the use of nicotine replacement therapy, and strategies to initiate and maintain a quit attempt.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Nicotine patch

All participants will receive an 8-week course of transdermal nicotine patches. The first 4 weeks of use will be 21mg/24 hours, followed by 2 weeks of 14mg/24 hours patches, and finally 2 weeks of 7mg/24 hours patches.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Smartphone coaching

Participants randomized to the smartphone app intervention will receive 4 weeks of smartphone coaching given by research staff. The coaching is meant to be a time to address any issues that may rise with the participants' study smartphone or app.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Nicotine gum

Each participant enrolled will be given NRT gum (5-10week course) to be taken orally as nicotine cravings arise. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) gum pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Nicotine Lozenges

In cases where participants are unable to chew nicotine gum, lozenges will be sent as a replacement of Nicotine gum. Depending on participants' nicotine dependence, they will receive either the 2mg or 4mg (if they smoke within the first 30 minutes of waking) lozenge pieces per package instructions. We will direct subjects to use them for the first weeks following their quit date, using no more than one every 1-2 hours.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

NRT; NRT; NRT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar, recurring major depressive disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder

2. Functional impairment as indicated by a score of 2 or greater on the WHODAS 8 item version

3. Smoker as indicated by smoking greater than or equal to 5 cigarettes per day over the past 6 months;

4. Desire to quit smoking as indicated by self-reported serious intention to quitting tobacco within the next 6 months;

5. Age 18 and older;

6. Willing and medically eligible to use NRT;

7. Currently receiving psychiatric treatment and intent to receive treatment for the duration of the study (therapy, medications, etc.).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Problematic substance use, as defined by the Addiction Severity Index, within the last 30 days, twice within the past 6 months, or hospitalization for substance abuse within the past year.

2. Current acute psychotic episode or unsafe to participate in the study as defined by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Psychotic Disorders (Sheehan et al., 1998);

3. Being pregnant or the intention to become pregnant in the next 6 months;

4. Currently receiving any pharmacological and/or behavioral intervention or counseling for smoking cessation;

5. Currently using e-cigarettes or other tobacco products besides cigarettes > 10 days in the past 30 days.

6. Unsafe to participate in the study due to moderate or high risk of suicide determined by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) - Screen Version, defined as answering 'yes' to both question 3 for the last month and 'yes' to question 6 for lifetime (moderate risk), or 'yes' to questions 4 and 5 for the recent month, or 'yes' to question 6 for the last 3 months (high risk).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Roger Vilardaga, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Wake Forest University

Locations

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York, United States

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Wake Forest Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R01DA047301

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

IRB00110770

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id