Irene Pericot-Valverde1, Olaya García-Rodríguez2, José Gutiérrez-Maldonado3, Roberto Secades-Villa4. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: pericotirene@uniovi.es. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: garciaolaya@uniovi.es. 3. Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatments, University of Barcelona, Paseo Valle de Hebrón, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jgutierrezm@ub.edu. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: secades@uniovi.es.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Although extensive research has demonstrated that cigarette craving can be effectively attenuated, very few studies have explored associations between individual variables and craving reduction. This study explored whether individual characteristics predict craving decreases during virtual reality cue exposure treatment (VR-CET). METHOD: Participants were 41 treatment-seeking smokers (73% women) with a mean age of 39.4 (SD=13.2), who had been smoking 15.0 (SD=7.1) cigarettes per day for 20.0 (SD=10.7) years. Their mean score on the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was 4.8 (SD=2.3). Participants completed five cue exposure sessions using virtual reality for smoking cessation over a five-week period. The percentage of reduction in craving was calculated by comparing self-reported craving after the first and last exposure sessions. Sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, years of education and marital status), tobacco-related [duration of daily smoking, cigarettes per day, FTND and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS)] and psychological characteristics [depressive symptoms (Beck's Depression Inventory-Second Edition, BDI-II), impulsiveness (delay discounting) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI)] were examined as possible predictors for craving reductions. RESULTS: Multiple regression revealed that greater decreases in craving were associated with younger age (β=-.30, p=.043), cigarettes smoked per day (β=.30, p=.042), higher values on delay discounting (β=.34, p=.020) and higher BDI-II scores (β=.30, p=.035). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that smokers with certain individual characteristics may benefit most from interventions aimed at reducing craving through VR-CET.
INTRODUCTION: Although extensive research has demonstrated that cigarette craving can be effectively attenuated, very few studies have explored associations between individual variables and craving reduction. This study explored whether individual characteristics predict craving decreases during virtual reality cue exposure treatment (VR-CET). METHOD:Participants were 41 treatment-seeking smokers (73% women) with a mean age of 39.4 (SD=13.2), who had been smoking 15.0 (SD=7.1) cigarettes per day for 20.0 (SD=10.7) years. Their mean score on the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was 4.8 (SD=2.3). Participants completed five cue exposure sessions using virtual reality for smoking cessation over a five-week period. The percentage of reduction in craving was calculated by comparing self-reported craving after the first and last exposure sessions. Sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, years of education and marital status), tobacco-related [duration of daily smoking, cigarettes per day, FTND and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS)] and psychological characteristics [depressive symptoms (Beck's Depression Inventory-Second Edition, BDI-II), impulsiveness (delay discounting) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI)] were examined as possible predictors for craving reductions. RESULTS: Multiple regression revealed that greater decreases in craving were associated with younger age (β=-.30, p=.043), cigarettes smoked per day (β=.30, p=.042), higher values on delay discounting (β=.34, p=.020) and higher BDI-II scores (β=.30, p=.035). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that smokers with certain individual characteristics may benefit most from interventions aimed at reducing craving through VR-CET.
Authors: Elise E DeVito; Andrea H Weinberger; Raina D Pang; Nicole Petersen; Tessa Fagle; Alicia M Allen Journal: Curr Behav Neurosci Rep Date: 2020-07-15