Positive Psychology for Smoking Addiction

Overseen By Joelle C Ferron, PhD, MSW

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Must be taking: NRT

Disqualifiers: Legal guardian, Substance use disorder

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 16 weeks

16 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether Positive Psychology, a therapy focused on individual strengths and creating positive experiences, can help people quit smoking. Participants begin with four individual sessions to identify personal strengths, followed by group sessions to support their recovery journey. This treatment targets individuals with a serious mental illness who smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day and wish to quit within the next month. Participants must also agree to use nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches or gum, daily. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy methods for smoking cessation.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that Positive Psychology is safe for smoking cessation?

Research has shown that positive psychology methods, such as Positive Psychotherapy (PPT), are generally manageable for individuals. Studies have found that these methods can aid in quitting smoking and improving mental health. For instance, one study found that quitting smoking can reduce stress and worry.

Other studies suggest that using psychological treatments to stop smoking typically does not cause serious side effects. Many individuals report that these treatments enhance their overall well-being. However, experiences can vary from person to person.

For those considering joining a trial using positive psychology to quit smoking, this research suggests it could be a safe choice. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike typical smoking cessation treatments that often rely on nicotine replacement or medications like varenicline and bupropion, the Positive Recovery for Smoking program uses positive psychology principles. This unique approach emphasizes identifying and leveraging personal strengths to overcome addiction, focusing on creating and enjoying positive life events. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it empowers individuals to harness their inherent strengths in a supportive group setting, potentially leading to more sustainable behavior change and overall well-being.

What evidence suggests that Positive Psychology might be an effective treatment for smoking addiction?

Research has shown that Positive Psychotherapy (PPT), which participants will experience through the "Positive Recovery for Smoking" program, can aid in quitting smoking. One study found that about 31.6% of those who used PPT remained smoke-free for six months. Another study reported that 40% of participants were not smoking by the end of their treatment, increasing to 56% after six months. These studies suggest that focusing on positive life events and personal strengths can help individuals successfully quit smoking. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults over 21 who smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day, have a serious mental illness diagnosis, want to quit smoking within the next month, and are willing to use nicotine replacement therapy daily. They should not be dealing with other substance use disorders or have a legal guardian.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 21, have a serious mental illness, don't use substances, smoke 10+ cigarettes a day, want to quit soon, and can use nicotine replacement therapy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 16-week Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) program for smoking cessation, including individual and group sessions focusing on identifying and utilizing signature strengths.

16 weeks

4 individual sessions, followed by weekly group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for smoking abstinence and cessation strategies through qualitative interviews and assessments.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Positive Psychology

Trial Overview The study is testing Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) as an approach to help smokers quit. It involves individual and group treatments designed to increase positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Positive Recovery Smoking Cessation (Individual and Group) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The "Positive Recovery for Smoking" program is a 16-week treatment that focuses on the use of identifying signature character strengths and identifying, creating, and enjoying positive life events to facilitate recovery from smoking addiction. The first 4 individual sessions will focus on a self-evaluation of strengths and a focus on the individuals top 5 "signature strengths". The participants will then learn about how their signature strengths currently help them function and when and how they can use these strengths to recover from smoking. The group sessions will begin at 5 weeks (following 4 individual sessions) - sessions are structured to begin with a check-in where patients identify their most used signature strengths and take inventory of their smoking and cessation efforts from the past week. We will then support participants in their efforts to learn new ways to navigate positive recovery.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

548

Recruited

2,545,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A Positive Psychotherapy for Smoking Cessation (PPT-S) intervention, which combines standard smoking cessation counseling with positive psychology techniques, was well-received by 19 smokers, showing high attendance and satisfaction rates.

Approximately 31.6% of participants maintained smoking abstinence for 6 months after quitting, suggesting that integrating positive psychology may enhance the effectiveness of traditional smoking cessation methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Psychotherapy for Smoking Cessation: Treatment Development, Feasibility and Preliminary Results. Kahler, CW., Spillane, NS., Day, A., et al.[2021]

A randomized controlled trial involving 340 adult daily smokers will test whether a smoking cessation treatment that incorporates positive psychology can lead to higher cessation rates compared to standard behavioral counseling.

Participants will receive weekly counseling for 6 weeks, along with nicotine patches and text messaging support, with outcomes measured at 12, 26, and 52 weeks to assess the effectiveness of the positive psychology approach.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive psychotherapy for smoking cessation enhanced with text messaging: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Kahler, CW., Surace, A., Gordon, REF., et al.[2020]

In a pilot study involving 66 smokers, those who received positive psychotherapy for smoking cessation (PPT-S) had significantly higher odds of remaining abstinent from smoking compared to those receiving standard treatment, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.75.

The effectiveness of PPT-S was particularly pronounced in participants with higher positive affect, suggesting that focusing on enhancing positive emotions may improve smoking cessation outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Positive Psychotherapy for Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Kahler, CW., Spillane, NS., Day, AM., et al.[2019]

Research indicates that individuals who have quit smoking report higher levels of happiness and emotional awareness compared to current smokers and those who have never smoked.

This suggests that promoting positive emotional factors may play a crucial role in supporting healthy behaviors, such as quitting smoking.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Smoking from the perspective of positive psychology]. Mojs, E., Stanisławska-Kubiak, M., Skommer, M., et al.[2010]

In a study of 481 participants who had attended a smoking cessation program, higher levels of Positivity (POS) were linked to a lower likelihood of relapse and reduced cravings to smoke.

The results suggest that fostering a positive outlook can significantly support individuals in their efforts to quit smoking, highlighting the importance of psychological traits in smoking cessation outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association between positivity and smoking cessation. Grassi, MC., Alessandri, G., Pasquariello, S., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3964803/

Positive Psychotherapy for Smoking Cessation: Treatment ... Almost one-third of participants (31.6%) sustained smoking abstinence for 6 months after their quit date. Future studies to assess the relative efficacy of PPT- ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06632756

NCT06632756 | Positive Psychology for Smoking Cessation This study will examine how Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) may help people interested in quitting smoking, quit. Detailed Description. This project aims to adapt ...

3. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2022/7/e38234/

Feature-Level Analysis of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone ... Self-reported 30-day point prevalence abstinence rates were 40% at the end of treatment and 56% at the 6-month follow up. The app engaged users ...

4. e-jyms.org e-jyms.org/journal/view.php?number=2882

Effects of psychological conditions and changes on ... After 6 months, 222 participants successfully quit smoking, while 69 failed. The success and failure groups exhibited statistically significant ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-mental-illnesses-9-2024-f7fc0

Positive Psychology for Smoking Addiction In a study, about 31.6% of participants who used Positive Psychology interventions stayed smoke-free for six months. Additionally, having a positive outlook is ...

6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555596/

Interventions for Smoking Cessation and Treatments ... - NCBI Among program completers (24% of the total sample), quit rates were 33% for 7-day point prevalence and 28% for 30-day point prevalence, and 88% of participants ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460322003367

Association of psychological distress with smoking ... Tobacco smoking cessation is associated with improvements in mental health. Never-smokers and >1 year ex-smokers had lower levels of distress than smokers.

8. dbhids.org dbhids.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/A-meta-analysis-of-smoking-cessation-interventions-with-individuals-in-substance-abuse-treatment-or-recovery.pdf

A-meta-analysis-of-smoking-cessation-interventions-with- ... This meta-analysis examined outcomes of smoking cessation interventions evaluated in 19 randomized controlled trials with individuals in current addictions ...