We proposed to explore the impact of environmental context and cue type in nicotine craving and dependence using an immersive virtual reality cue reactivity system (IVRCR). Traditional cue reactivity approaches have been criticized for lacking realism and not providing exposure in realistic environmental contexts. The proposed IVRCR system provides exposure to complex social cues and realistic interpersonal situations within congruent environmental contexts (e.g. party setting vs. lab room). The impact of environmental context on craving and immersion will be tested in a controlled cue reactivity experiment of 105 adult nicotine dependent smokers. Assignment will be randomized to three context groups who will be exposed to both neutral and smoking cues in either a IVRCR or traditional cue reactivity paradigm. Physiological arousal, subjective craving, immersion, attention to cues, and mood state will be compared between groups and three hypotheses concerning the main effects of smoking context and cue type will be tested. Results will contribute to the conditioning theory of craving and the effect of context in drug dependence and relapse. The study results will provide additional information relevant to generalizability of cues and other significant issues in cue reactivity theory. We proposed to explore the impact of environmental context and cue type in nicotine craving and dependence using an immersive virtual reality cue reactivity system (IVRCR). The proposed IVRCR system provides exposure to complex social cues and realistic interpersonal situations within congruent environmental contexts (e.g. party setting vs. lab room).

Public Health Relevance

We believe that the additions to VR cue methods will sufficiently emulate traditional cue reactivity (non-VR methods), and expand these methods to study the impact of environmental context on craving and dependence, not currently offered in traditional cue approaches.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21DA022995-02
Application #
7684035
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section (RPIA)
Program Officer
Kautz, Mary A
Project Start
2008-09-15
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$149,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Houston
Department
Type
Schools of Social Work
DUNS #
036837920
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77204
Bordnick, Patrick S; Carter, Brian L; Traylor, Amy C (2011) What virtual reality research in addictions can tell us about the future of obesity assessment and treatment. J Diabetes Sci Technol 5:265-71
Traylor, Amy C; Bordnick, Patrick S; Carter, Brian L (2009) Using virtual reality to assess young adult smokers' attention to cues. Cyberpsychol Behav 12:373-8