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Project SOAR

Depressed and interested in quitting smoking?

For information call: 713-563-SOAR

Research has shown that smokers with depressed mood often have a tough time quitting smoking. Project SOAR is a stop smoking research study comparing two different treatments to help determine the best way to help people with depression quit smoking. Participants receive one-on-one counseling and nicotine patches. In addition, participants are paid for completing questionnaires at the end of treatment and at two follow-up appointments.

Study participants must be:

  • Currently smoking five or more cigarettes daily
  • Currently experiencing a sad, low or depressed mood, or have lost interest in activities that used to be enjoyed
  • Not taking medication, receiving counseling or in any other treatment for depression or smoking
  • Age 16 and older
  • Able to speak, read and write in English

What’s involved in participating?

  • Screening to determine if you are eligible for Project SOAR
  • Coming to MD Anderson in the Texas Medical Center for counseling sessions once a week for 12 weeks. Sessions may last up to an hour and 50 minutes
  • Attending two follow-up sessions after completing the final counseling sessions

What are the benefits of participating?

  • Treatment to help you quit smoking, including nicotine patches and counseling
  • Treatment to educate you more about health effects of smoking or to help with your mood
  • Payment for completing questionnaires at visit 12 and the two follow-up visits

What do we know about smoking cessation and mood?

  • Research suggests that there is a strong connection between depression and smoking
  • Research also suggests that depression can make it harder to quit smoking by interfering with smokers’ efforts to quit
  • Smoking counseling helps people understand why they smoke, identify patterns of smoking and learn ways to cope with smoking urges, and can be effective in helping people quit smoking, particularly when used along with the nicotine patch

Specialists

Janice A. Blalock, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

Dr. Blalock is an associate professor of behavioral science and assistant director of the MD Anderson Tobacco Treatment Program. Dr. Blalock came to MD Anderson with significant research and counseling experience working with mood and anxiety disorders, including depression. In her nearly 10 years at MD Anderson, Dr. Blalock has focused on developing and evaluating treatments to help people stop smoking. Dr. Blalock’s recent treatment studies have involved evaluating smoking cessation treatments for people with bladder cancer, evaluating a mood-focused smoking cessation treatment for individuals with depression and evaluating a mood-focused stop smoking treatment for pregnant women. As the assistant director of the Tobacco Treatment Program, she helps to oversee a program that provides smoking cessation treatment to current cancer patients as well as MD Anderson Cancer Center employees.

Andrea N. Taylor, Ph.D.
Study Therapist

Dr. Taylor is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Behavioral Science. She has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has specialized training in the assessment and treatment of smoking and substance use disorders. Dr. Taylor also has a strong background in treating anxiety disorders and depression. She has therapy experience delivering smoking cessation treatments to hospitalized patients, pregnant smokers, people with a history of depression and veterans. Dr. Taylor has also worked with substance use disorders, including alcohol and drug addiction. Dr. Taylor has research and therapy interests in health-behaviors including smoking, as well as in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

Lacria M. Baham, M.P.H.
Senior Research Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out more about Project SOAR? How do I enroll?
For more information or to be screened for participation, call MD Anderson at 713-563-SOAR.

Is this confidential?
Yes. All information you provide will be completely confidential. No one outside this study may have access to your information without your permission.

When do the participants actually receive the patches?
Patches are provided immediately before the scheduled quit date, which is halfway through the counseling sessions.

How do I know what two treatment groups that I will fall into?
Participants will be informed during the first counseling session. Selection of treatment group is done randomly by computer. It is similar to flipping a coin to determine which group someone would be in.

Will you do any physical tests on me like drawing blood?

  • We will not be drawing any blood or doing a physical examination.
  • We will routinely take your blood pressure and get breath samples by having you breathe into a machine.
  • Women of childbearing age are asked to do a urine pregnancy test at the beginning of the study.

Whom do I contact?
For more information or to be screened for participation, call Tiffini Jones or Lacria Baham at Project SOAR at 713-563-SOAR.


© 2013 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center