Reducing distress and tobacco smoking in cancer survivors: a TDCS telehealth study

Project Summary/Abstract
Cigarette smoking is the most prevalent cause of lung cancer, and also the strongest modifiable risk factor for
cancer deaths among survivors. Unfortunately, the psychological distress associated with a cancer diagnosis
makes smoking cessation particularly challenging for these patients. Distress itself is one of the core features of
Koob & Volkow’s 3-stage model of addiction. Each of these stages is regulated by complementary brain circuits
– which represent putative treatment targets. The long term goal of our research team is to develop an evidence-
based brain stimulation treatment protocol for smoking cessation which is accessible, scalable, and an adjuvant
to pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy among cancer survivors. Before embarking on a large multisite and
multimodal clinical trial, however, it is critical to evaluate feasibility of delivering RS-tDCS to our target population
(Aim 1) as well as estimated effect sizes on distress (Aim 2A) and smoking (Aim 2B). (Scientific Gap).
Our team has developed and extensively validated a protocol for remotely supervised neuromodulation
intervention which is delivered to participants at home and monitored by clinician during a telehealth visit. This
remotely supervised technique utilizes transcranial direct current stimulation (RS-tDCS) and can be delivered
safely via daily telehealth visits for extended treatment periods to provide cumulative benefit. Building on an
established body of work, we seek to decrease distress among individuals with a prior cancer diagnosis and
TUD via DLPFC tDCS. The goal of this proposal is to evaluate this technique as a feasible (Aim 1) tool to
decrease distress and cigarette smoking (Aim 2) among this population. We propose a double-blind sham-
controlled trial of a completely at-home intervention - RS-tDCS (DLFPC, 2.0 mA) paired with guided mindfulness
meditation as a tool to decrease distress and smoking behavior among individuals with TUD. Eligible participants
with a prior cancer diagnosis and TUD (n=46) will be randomized to active vs. sham tDCS for 20 daily (M-F) x
20 min sessions over one month, followed by 3 monthly follow up video visits. We hypothesize that active vs.
sham tDCS will lead to greater reductions in distress and decrease smoking behaviors (Aim 2) by treatment end
(primary) and through the 3 month follow up (secondary).
The need for scalable, remote therapeutics which can be coupled with telehealth counseling techniques is more
important than ever given the worldwide burden of COVID-19, including stay-at-home orders and an
unprecedented acceleration in smoking and tobacco purchases. RS-tDCS as a tool to reduce distress and
smoking behavior in people’s own homes represents a next-generation therapeutic approach– an important step
forward for individuals struggling with a prior cancer diagnosis and current TUD, and is especially timely amidst
the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grant Number: 5R21DA055426-02
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Merideth Addicott