Episodic Thinking for Smoking

This trial aims to explore new ways to help people quit smoking using a technique called episodic thinking, which involves visualizing future events. The study will test various methods of this technique, including Domain-specific episodic thinking, Episodic Future Thinking (EFT), Episodic Recent Thinking (ERT), and Generalized episodic thinking, to evaluate their effectiveness in encouraging smoking cessation, particularly in rural and urban areas. Participants will engage in exercises that help them imagine positive future events and how quitting smoking can impact these moments. Individuals who have smoked daily for the last 30 days and plan to quit soon might be a good fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could help others quit smoking.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using any smoking cessation treatments, you cannot participate in the trial.

Research has shown that thinking about the future, known as episodic future thinking (EFT), is a promising way to change behaviors like smoking. Studies have found that EFT helps people focus more on their future, which can reduce smoking. This method has been used in various situations without raising major safety concerns.

Specifically, two types of EFT—general and specific—are being adapted to help people quit smoking. In past studies, participants had positive experiences and did not report any serious side effects, suggesting that EFT is safe for those trying to quit smoking.

Researchers are excited about these techniques because they use episodic thinking to help people quit smoking by imagining future events. Unlike traditional treatments like nicotine replacement therapies or medications such as varenicline, these approaches emphasize mental visualization. Generalized episodic future thinking (EFT) encourages participants to envision positive future milestones, while domain-specific EFT adds the dimension of considering potential health impacts like lung cancer symptoms. These methods aim to strengthen motivation by making the future consequences of smoking more personally relevant and emotionally impactful.

Research has shown that thinking about future events, known as episodic future thinking (EFT), can help people quit smoking. In this trial, participants will join different treatment arms to explore various forms of EFT. Studies have found that EFT, which involves imagining future scenarios, can lead to a 69.34% reduction in nicotine use. It also boosts the desire to quit by encouraging focus on the long-term benefits of not smoking. One arm of this trial will focus on generalized EFT, while another will explore domain-specific EFT that emphasizes personal health. These methods may help people quit smoking by making future health benefits feel more immediate and real.¹²⁶⁷⁸