Virtual Reality and Varenicline for Nicotine Addiction

This study is looking at how a medication called varenicline (Chantix) affects nicotine addiction, specifically how it changes your attention to smoking cues. Researchers want to see if virtual reality (VR) can help measure these changes. You would be one of 200 daily tobacco cigarette users, aged 22 or older, from the San Diego area. You would receive either varenicline (1mg twice daily) or a placebo (an inactive pill). The study will measure changes in your attention to smoking cues using VR before and after treatment, and also track your nicotine cravings and short-term smoking behaviors for about 30 days. The goal is to understand how varenicline works and if VR can be a useful tool to measure its effects.

Study design
This is an interventional study involving 200 participants who will be randomly assigned to receive either varenicline or a placebo.
What's involved
You would have in-person sessions at baseline and after about 8 days of treatment, with mobile and phone assessments for up to 30 days after the second in-person visit.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for short-term nicotine use behaviors for an average of 30 days after the post-treatment assessment.

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NCT06582888

Advancing VR-based Attentional Bias as a Biomarker for Tobacco Use Disorder

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 22+InterventionalBasic science
University of California, San Diego
~200 participants
Updated 2026-03-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Varenicline TartratePlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Virtual Reality Attentional Bias (VR-AB) pre- and post-treatment
Measured over during each in-person session, at baseline and on average 8 days post baseline assessment
+4 more outcomes measured
Nicotine Addiction
Craving
1 sites across 1 states
California1
  • Kelly Courtney, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, San Diego

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  • Change in Virtual Reality Attentional Bias (VR-AB) pre- and post-treatmentduring each in-person session, at baseline and on average 8 days post baseline assessment

    Eye gaze fixation time to active versus neutral cues from the \"NTP Cue VR Paradigm\"

  • Nicotine cravingduring each in-person session, at baseline and on average 8 days post baseline assessment

    Assessed via the Tobacco Craving Questionnaire - Short-Form

  • Nicotine cravingthrough study completion, an average of 30 days

    Assessed via visual analogue scales (VR paradigm and mobile surveys)

  • Nicotine use episodesduring each in-person session, at baseline and on average 8 days post baseline assessment

    Assessed via the Timeline Followback

  • Nicotine use episodesthrough study completion, an average of 30 days

    Assessed via participant fill-in on mobile surveys