Do you smoke cigarettes? You may be eligible to participate in a research study.
The Behavioral Reward Affect + Impulsivity Neuroscience (B.R.A.I.N.) Lab at the University of British Columbia is recruiting participants for a research project assessing a new method to study cigarette smokers’ experience of craving.
Study title: SCANS: Spontaneous Craving and Neurophenomenology in Smokers
Principal Investigator: Dr. Christian Schütz (PI, UBC Psychiatry); Dr. Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva (UBC Psychology), Stefanie Todesco, PhD Student
Study Description: Cigarettes can be very difficult to quit, with relapse occurring often. Craving, or desire for cigarettes can be strong in people who smoke and make it more difficult to quit. So far, there is little research on craving that studies smokers’ subjective (or, first-person) experience of craving. It is important to understand how smokers experience craving (for example, how strong their craving is) so we can better understand the nature of craving.Who can participate?
Purpose of study: The main purpose of this study is to assess a new method to study cigarette smokers’ experience of craving. To do this, you will be asked questions about your craving regularly while watching film clips.
Eligibility: The study team will determine your eligibility based on your responses to the following survey and through potential follow-up assessments completed via phone or in-person, if required.
You may be able to participate in this study if you:
- Are between 21 and 40 years old at the start of the study
- Smoke ≥10 cigarettes/day for at least 2 years
- Can verify smoking status with a breathalyzer
- Willing to abstain from smoking for ≥12 hours prior to 2nd visit
- Are not currently undergoing or seeking treatment for smoking
- Are able to provide informed consent
- Are able to complete assessments in English
You may not be able to participate in this study if you:
- Have any diagnosed mental health disorder (current or in the past year) or potential mental health disorder, as determined by the research team
- Have other moderate-to-severe substance use disorders (other than nicotine), as determined by the research team
- Are using medications that may significantly impact performance on research tasks, as determined by the research team
- Have Autism Spectrum Disorder or other cognitive impairment that would affect performance on research tasks, as determined by the research team
- Have a non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (e.g., cannot hear well enough to complete an interview)
What does my participation involve?
Participation will include questionnaires, computer tasks, and viewing movie clips. Take this short survey to check your eligibility: https://rc.med.ubc.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=LCP8EK4447KTMC7N
Type of compensation: Session 1: 1 hour; $20; Session 2: 1.5 hours; $30
Contact: For more information, contact the B.R.A.I.N Lab: https://brainlab.med.ubc.ca/contact