Examining Yoga's Effects on Smoking (NCT02181179) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Examining Yoga's Effects on Smoking
United States50 participantsStarted 2014-07
Plain-language summary
The primary aim of this research study is to examine the effects of an 8-week yoga program on aspects related to nicotine dependence, stress, and coping during a smoking quit attempt.
Guided by initial studies reporting on the effects of yoga on putative mediators of smoking relapse (i.e., cortisol, distress intolerance, withdrawal symptoms), the proposed experiment examines the effects of an 8-week yoga practice on nicotine withdrawal intensity by way of aiding withdrawal characteristics predictive of smoking relapse. The long-term objectives of the proposed line of research are to: (1) inform theoretical models of nicotine withdrawal, (2) guide the development of effective alternative interventions for smokers susceptible to relapse during the critical withdrawal period (i.e., smokers low in distress tolerance), and (3) to help guide behavioral strategies for treating substance addictions broadly.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
Report motivation to quit smoking of at least 5 on a 10-point Likert-type scale - -Express interest in making a serious, unassisted quit attempt in the next month-
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial used yoga as a tool to help with smoking cessation by measuring stress hormones and nicotine withdrawal — do you think my current stress levels and withdrawal symptoms make me a good candidate to explore yoga as part of my quit plan?
2The trial tracked cortisol through hair and saliva samples to measure stress objectively — does my own stress biology or cortisol level play a role in why I'm having trouble quitting, and would that be worth testing?
3Since this study is already completed, would you be able to look at its published results with me to see whether yoga actually helped reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms enough to matter clinically?
4This trial compared yoga against a waitlist control, not against standard treatments like nicotine replacement or medication — do you think I should try proven pharmacological quit aids first, or could adding yoga alongside them make sense for me?
5Given that this was a behavioral study with no assigned phase, what does that mean for how confident we can be in its findings, and how should that affect whether I take its results seriously in my own quit attempt?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Measurement of Objective Stress through Hormonal Biomarkers (Hair & Salivary Cortisol)
Timeframe: Collected at pre-and-post intervention (Baseline and Quit day, Week 9)
2
Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale-Revised
Timeframe: post-yoga Week 9 on Quit day and week 10 follow-up