Cognitive and Emotional Skills to Aid Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Among individuals who engage in smoking cessation treatment, attrition rates remain high. Many smokers experience difficulties in regulating their emotions, which reduces their ability to benefit from standard interventions and leads to increased smoking behaviors. In addition, cognitive deficits (e.g., reduced working memory capacity) may prevent smokers from applying information from interventions, making smart choices about the benefits and risks of smoking, and resisting smoking advertisements. This study will test whether adding a working memory training and motivational enhancement component to a standard, evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy-based smoking cessation program (SCP) can improve treatment adherence and successful quit rates. This study will compare 5 sessions of SCP with an additional wellness-focused component (control intervention) to SCP incorporating motivational enhancement and working memory training ("enhanced" intervention). Participants will be adult smokers recruited from the greater Boston community who are interested in quitting smoking. This study will determine the efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of the enhanced intervention.