Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers
Abstract Cue exposure therapy (CET) in substance-use disorders aims to reduce craving and ultimately relapse rates. Applying CET in virtual reality (VR) was proposed to increase its efficacy, as VR enables the presentation of social and environmental cues along with substance-related stimuli. Howeve...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58168-7 |
| _version_ | 1797233600924483584 |
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| author | Benedikt Schröder Agnes Kroczek Leon O. H. Kroczek Ann-Christine Ehlis Anil Batra Andreas Mühlberger |
| author_facet | Benedikt Schröder Agnes Kroczek Leon O. H. Kroczek Ann-Christine Ehlis Anil Batra Andreas Mühlberger |
| author_sort | Benedikt Schröder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cue exposure therapy (CET) in substance-use disorders aims to reduce craving and ultimately relapse rates. Applying CET in virtual reality (VR) was proposed to increase its efficacy, as VR enables the presentation of social and environmental cues along with substance-related stimuli. However, limited success has been reported so far when applying VR-CET for smoking cessation. Understanding if effects of VR-CET differ between future abstainers and relapsing smokers may help to improve VR-CET. Data from 102 participants allocated to the intervention arm (VR-CET) of a recent RCT comparing VR-CET to relaxation in the context of smoking cessation was analyzed with respect to tolerability, presence, and craving during VR-CET. Cue exposure was conducted in four VR contexts (Loneliness/Rumination, Party, Stress, Café), each presented twice. Relapsed smokers compared to abstainers experienced higher craving during VR-CET and stronger craving responses especially during the Stress scenario. Furthermore, lower mean craving during VR-CET positively predicted abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Attempts to improve smoking cessation outcomes of VR-CET should aim to identify smokers who are more at risk of relapse based on high craving levels during VR-CET. Specifically measuring craving responses during social stress seems to be well suited to mark relapse. We propose to investigate individualized treatment approaches accordingly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:18:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82f51f48346a4fe7bc45b201f8a78369 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:18:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-82f51f48346a4fe7bc45b201f8a783692024-03-31T11:18:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-58168-7Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokersBenedikt Schröder0Agnes Kroczek1Leon O. H. Kroczek2Ann-Christine Ehlis3Anil Batra4Andreas Mühlberger5Department for Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital TübingenDepartment for Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital TübingenDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University Hospital TübingenDepartment for Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgAbstract Cue exposure therapy (CET) in substance-use disorders aims to reduce craving and ultimately relapse rates. Applying CET in virtual reality (VR) was proposed to increase its efficacy, as VR enables the presentation of social and environmental cues along with substance-related stimuli. However, limited success has been reported so far when applying VR-CET for smoking cessation. Understanding if effects of VR-CET differ between future abstainers and relapsing smokers may help to improve VR-CET. Data from 102 participants allocated to the intervention arm (VR-CET) of a recent RCT comparing VR-CET to relaxation in the context of smoking cessation was analyzed with respect to tolerability, presence, and craving during VR-CET. Cue exposure was conducted in four VR contexts (Loneliness/Rumination, Party, Stress, Café), each presented twice. Relapsed smokers compared to abstainers experienced higher craving during VR-CET and stronger craving responses especially during the Stress scenario. Furthermore, lower mean craving during VR-CET positively predicted abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Attempts to improve smoking cessation outcomes of VR-CET should aim to identify smokers who are more at risk of relapse based on high craving levels during VR-CET. Specifically measuring craving responses during social stress seems to be well suited to mark relapse. We propose to investigate individualized treatment approaches accordingly.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58168-7 |
| spellingShingle | Benedikt Schröder Agnes Kroczek Leon O. H. Kroczek Ann-Christine Ehlis Anil Batra Andreas Mühlberger Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers Scientific Reports |
| title | Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| title_full | Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| title_fullStr | Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| title_short | Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| title_sort | cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58168-7 |
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