Effectiveness of an Integrated Treatment to Address Smoking Cessation and Anxiety/ Depression in People Living With HIV

QUIT is a transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based smoking cessation protocol designed to address distress intolerance, anxiety sensitivity, and anhedonia in people living with HIV who smoke. QUIT is delivered in 9 60-minute individual weekly sessions over a 10-week period. Sessions are active, with treatment components practiced within and outside of the session. Participants will also receive the transdermal nicotine patch for 8 weeks, starting when they attempt to quit smoking during week 7 of the study.

Participants will receive a standard smoking cessation treatment, based on the clinical practice guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Treatment will be delivered in nine, 60-minute sessions over a ten-week period. The treatment is based on a treatment protocol developed and used previously by Dr. Zvolensky. Because clinical guidelines recommend that all smokers attempting to quit smoking receive pharmacotherapy, participants will also receive the transdermal nicotine patch for 8 weeks.