Corrigendum to "Approach bias retraining to augment smoking cessation: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial" [Contemp. Clin. Trials Commun. 14 (2019) 100340].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100340.].

Enhancing panic and smoking reduction treatment with D-Cycloserine: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

In this placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, we examined the efficacy of 250 mg d-cycloserine (DCS) for enhancing the effects of cognitive behavior therapy targeting anxiety sensitivity reduction in the context of smoking cessation treatment among adults with a history of panic attacks. We hypothesized that DCS would enhance treatment of our mechanistic targets-anxiety sensitivity and panic and related symptoms-and result in greater smoking abstinence. A total of 53 smokers were randomized to a 7-week integrated treatment and received study medication (DCS or placebo) prior to sessions 3-5; these sessions emphasized interoceptive exposure practice. Nicotine replacement therapy was initiated at session 5 (quit date). We found that DCS augmentation led to greater reductions of one (anxiety sensitivity) of two of our mechanistic targets at early but not late assessments, and that engaging that target predicted better smoking outcomes. However, there was no evidence of group (DCS vs. placebo) differences in smoking cessation success at treatment endpoint or follow-up evaluations. Hence, although we found that DCS can enhance treatment targeting a smoking maintaining factor, additional strategies appear to be needed to significantly affect smoking outcomes.

Approach bias retraining to augment smoking cessation: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Heavy users and addicted individuals have shown to develop an approach action tendency - or approach bias - toward stimuli related to the substance of interest. Emerging evidence points to approach bias retraining (ABR) as an effective aid for the treatment of addictive behaviors. The current study seeks to extend this work by testing, in a pilot study, whether standard smoking cessation treatment involving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and nicotine replacement therapy can be augmented by ABR. To this end, we will randomly assign 100 adult smokers to either ABR-augmented treatment or placebo-augmented treatment and compare the two conditions on short-term and long-term abstinence rates. The hope is that the findings of this study can inform treatment development for adult smokers.

YMCA exercise intervention to augment smoking cessation treatment in adults with high anxiety sensitivity: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Extant evidence suggests that exercise can reduce anxiety related vulnerability factors, such as anxiety sensitivity (AS), or fear of bodily sensations related to anxiety, that negatively impact smoking cessation outcomes. Building upon emerging evidence supporting the efficacy of exercise as an aid for smoking cessation in adults with high AS, we are conducting a trial to examine the efficacy and feasibility of this clinical application when implemented in a community setting. Partnering with the YMCA, this study aims to enroll 150 adults in a standard smoking cessation protocol (i.e. counseling and nicotine replacement therapy) and randomly assign them to either 15 weeks of programmed vigorous-intensity or low-intensity exercise. Smoking abstinence data will be collected up to 6 months following the quit attempt.