Enhancing panic and smoking reduction treatment with d-cycloserine: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Smokers with panic attacks have a higher risk of relapse.
• Limited research exists on effective treatments for this population.
• Panic and Smoking Reduction Treatment (PSRT) combines cessation support with exposure therapy for panic-smoking links.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of d-cycloserine (DCS) in enhancing PSRT outcomes.
• To assess DCS's potential to improve short-term and long-term smoking cessation.
• To explore the mechanisms through which DCS might affect treatment success.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind trial comparing PSRT with DCS versus PSRT with placebo.
• Recruitment of smokers experiencing panic attacks.
• Assessment of smoking cessation rates and potential underlying mechanisms.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled upon study completion.

Conclusions:

• This section is to be filled upon study completion.