Trial Outcomes & Findings for Working Memory Training on Delay Discounting Among Cigarette Smokers (NCT NCT05210608)

Last Updated: 2025-02-24

Results Overview

Delay Discounting (DD) was measured via an established computerized binary choice task in which participants choose between an amount of money available immediately and larger amount of money available after a specified delay (1 day to 25 years). A computerized algorithm adjusts the immediately available reward across seven trials to determine an indifference point (k) for each amount/delay pairing. Indifference points are then used to calculate a rate of delay discounting for a $50, $200, $1,000 "larger later" sum. Larger scores mean greater delay discounting. While there is no strict minimum or maximum k-value, but in practical research settings, typical k-values often range from close to 0 for individuals who discount delayed rewards very slowly to values above 1 for those who heavily discount delayed rewards. There is no strict lower or upper bound, but values can be extremely high (above 1) if an individual very strongly prefers immediate rewards.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

Target enrollment

13 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, Post-treatment, 1 month follow up

Results posted on

2025-02-24

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Overall Study STARTED	13
Overall Study COMPLETED	8
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	5

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Working Memory Training on Delay Discounting Among Cigarette Smokers

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Working Memory Training+ Behavioral Intervention n=13 Participants Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Age, Categorical <=18 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	13 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical >=65 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous	55.37 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.52 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	8 Participants n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	5 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	10 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	3 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment United States	13 Participants n=5 Participants
Delay Discounting (DD) Measure	-5.21 k-value n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Post-treatment, 1 month follow up

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention n=13 Participants Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Delay Discounting Baseline	-5.21 k-value Interval -12.12 to -0.19
Delay Discounting Post-treatment	-6.57 k-value Interval -10.66 to -4.24
Delay Discounting 1 month follow up	-7.13 k-value Interval -10.19 to -4.15

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Post-treatment, 1 month follow up

The Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) for cigarette smoking is a self-report method used to assess an individual's smoking behavior over a specified period and specified as one week for this study. In this method, individuals are guided to recall their daily cigarette use by referencing events, routines, and cues that help them accurately track their smoking patterns. They are asked to document the number of cigarettes smoked each day, which provides a detailed, day-by-day account of their smoking habits. This data was then be summed to give a weekly total cigarettes smoked per week. The TLFB approach is valued for its reliability and ability to capture fluctuations in smoking behavior over time.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention n=13 Participants Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB): Number of Total Cigarettes Smoked Per Week Baseline	76.53 number of total cigarettes/week Standard Deviation 60.70
Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB): Number of Total Cigarettes Smoked Per Week Post-treatment	38.83 number of total cigarettes/week Standard Deviation 40.15
Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB): Number of Total Cigarettes Smoked Per Week 1 month follow up	59.50 number of total cigarettes/week Standard Deviation 27.55

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Post-treatment, 1 month follow up

Participant reports of abstinence will be verified by expired carbon monoxide (\< 6 ppm cutoff for stated abstinence). CO levels are collected via a CO monitor.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention n=13 Participants Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Carbon Monoxide Levels Baseline	17.70 ppm (parts per million) Standard Deviation 11.65
Carbon Monoxide Levels Post-treatment	17.67 ppm (parts per million) Standard Deviation 9.44
Carbon Monoxide Levels 1 month follow up	30 ppm (parts per million) Standard Deviation 17.45

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Post-treatment, 1 month follow up

Working memory was assessed by adding the scores of 3 different working memory measures: 1) the total achievement score in the Tower of Hanoi, 2) the total recall score of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test- Revised and 3) the total scaled score of the Letter Number Sequencing. These measures are commonly used to assess working memory. In this study, the composite score of all measures ranged between 36 and 89 with higher scores representing greater working memory,

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention n=13 Participants Participants will complete 10 sessions of a Working Memory Training. All participants will receive behavioral activation (a behavioral intervention for smoking cessation) and nicotine patches.
Working Memory Baseline	58.61 Scores on a scale Standard Deviation 14.43
Working Memory Post-treatment	61.33 Scores on a scale Standard Deviation 11.13
Working Memory 1 month follow up	71.25 Scores on a scale Standard Deviation 13.42

Adverse Events

Working Memory Training + Behavioral Intervention

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Anahi Collado, Assistant Research Professor

University of Colorado-Boulder

Phone: 3037354140

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place