Integrated Treatment for Smoking Cessation & Anxiety in People With HIV Phase 1 (Project Quit)

• Treatment Acceptability [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The investigators will use the Treatment CEQ, a 6-item measure, to assess treatment credibility and expectancy for participants between their baseline assessment and 6-month follow-up assessment. The investigators will administer the scale after the first treatment session. Acceptability will also be evaluated on the basis of participant retention, which will be considered favorable acceptability based on retention of 80% or greater of participants. Participants' self-report of their reactions to the intervention and study participation will be assessed through a qualitative exit interview.
  
  

Behavioral: Integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for smoking cessation and anxiety
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for smoking cessation, cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch)
Other Name: START

This study represents an important step in treating nicotine dependence in HIV-positive individuals. This study addresses an important public health issue by assessing an intervention that may lead to a more effective application for the treatment of at-risk HIV+ smokers. The 1-year initial phase of the study will develop an integrated treatment for quitting smoking for anxiety-vulnerable HIV+ smokers. The proposed treatment will include cognitive-behavioral talk therapy for quitting smoking, a nicotine patch, and cognitive-behavioral talk therapy for anxiety. The pilot of the proposed treatment will be done with a small group of individuals (N = 12). This phase will be used to establish feasibility of treatment delivery, participant acceptability, and potential for a treatment effect before conducting a pilot randomized trial of the treatment. Additionally, this phase will monitor smoking cessation history through Point Prevalence Abstinence (PPA), as well as anxiety symptoms through the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) at the baseline and follow-up assessments. This study represents an important step in treating nicotine dependence in HIV-positive individuals. This study addresses an important public health issue by assessing an intervention that may lead to a more effective application for the treatment of at-risk HIV+ smokers.