Behavioral Activation and Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Depressed Smokers

Participants will be randomly assigned to 12 weeks of either placebo or varenicline medication (1mg twice daily). Participants and research personnel will be blind to treatment assignment.

"The goal of behavioral activation therapy is to increase engagement in rewarding activities, a problem for smokers with depression who find smoking especially rewarding and prefer it over many other traditionally rewarding activities, by reducing patterns of behavioral avoidance, withdrawal, and inactivity. In this study, behavioral activation will be integrated with standard behavioral smoking cessation treatment.~Treatment will be delivered in eight 45-minute sessions over 12 weeks occurring weekly for the first four sessions and biweekly for the final four sessions."

Standard behavioral smoking cessation treatment is an effective treatment for nicotine dependence. Treatment focuses on self-monitoring of smoking behavior, identifying smoking triggers and alternative trigger management strategies, relaxation, social support for non-smoking, and relapse prevention. Treatment will be delivered in eight 45-minute sessions over 12 weeks occurring weekly for the first four sessions and biweekly for the final four sessions.