E-cigarettes for Harm Reduction Among Smokers With Serious Mental Illness

Effectiveness and Impact of Counseling Enhanced Using Electronic Cigarettes for Harm Reduction in People With Serious Mental Illness

In this open-label, randomized controlled trial study, participants who smoke combustible cigarettes (CC) and are diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) will be randomized in two arms to receive harm-reduction counseling and Ecological Momentary Intervention text messaging (EMI) along with either e-cigarettes (EC) or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patch and lozenges to compare the efficacy in CC smoking reduction.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Currently smokes 5 or more CPD
• Willingness and ability to provide informed consent
• Age of at least 21 years
• Has SMI diagnosis (such as Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorders, Bipolar disorder, Depressive disorders, Trauma and stressor related disorders etc.) as determined using the MINI tool
• Interested in reducing CC smoking but not necessarily trying to quit
• Own a mobile phone or have regular access to a mobile phone
• Able to provide an additional contact to improve follow-up rates

Exclusion Criteria:

• Is pregnant or breastfeeding
• Used tobacco other than CC in the past 2 weeks (e.g., EC, cigarillo)
• Currently engaged in an attempt to quit CC
• Change in dose of their psychotropic medication(s) in the last 30 days
• Meeting DSM-V criteria for current alcohol or substance use disorder except for nicotine use disorder and active mild alcohol or substance use disorders.
• Past month suicidal ideation/suicide attempt and/or psychiatric hospitalization in the last 30 days