Erasing smoking memories with a retrieval-distractor protocol

The aim of the study is to evaluate a retrieval-distractor protocol on cue-induced craving in smokers. The primary objective is to evaluate whether retrieval of smoking memories directly followed by distractor stimuli would lead to a reduced cue-induced craving, i.e. successful disruption of the reconsolidation of the addiction memory. To test this, we will compare two groups of smokers subjected to a motion-assisted modified EMDR procedure in a virtual environment. One group will be exposed to distractor stimuli upon smoking memory retrieval, the other group to a non-distracting control stimulus

We expect to see a greater decline in cue-induced craving after intervention in the active group than the control group.

Patients come to the Amsterdam UMC (location Vumc) for 5 days straight: the middle three days are the intervention days, on the first and last day questionnaires and cue-exposure are carried out

Three sessions of 45 minutes, in which the active group, who walk in a virtual environment, are exposed to visual smoke-related stimuli and distractor stimuli. The control group is exposed to neutral stimuli instead of the distractor stimuli.