Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Smoking Cessation in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)

The proposed pilot study seeks to explore modulation of attentional bias and tobacco craving in PLWHA with one session of adequately dosed theta burst stimulation (TBS). Results of this trial will spur clinical research to further investigate the use of TBS as an adjunctive smoking cessation aid for PLWHA and could have broad implications for smoking cessation programs. Data obtained from this pilot study will also facilitate resubmission of a grant application examining adjunctive theta burst stimulation (TBS) combined with varenicline for smoking cessation in PLWHA. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) smoke at nearly three times the rate of the general population. These extraordinary smoking rates are associated with greater AIDS-related morbidity, non-AIDS related morbidity including non-AIDS-defining cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and mortality. Smoking significantly impacts the progression and outcome of HIV disease and has been identified as the leading contributor to premature mortality in PLWHA. One study estimated PLWHA lose more years from smoking than from HIV infection. In our view, shared by others in the field, the single greatest health behavior change that could improve mortality is to assist smokers living with HIV/AIDS to quit smoking.

Inclusion criteria

Potential participants will be

• Patients enrolled in the Bluegrass Clinic
• 18-60 years of age
• Male or female gender
• Able to read, understand and communicate in English
• Willing to adhere to the general rules of the Bluegrass Clinic/SMARTClinic/Beyond Birth Clinic
• Willing and able to abstain from drug use other than Suboxone
• Exhaled breath on day of study carbon monoxide (CO) < 5 ppm
• Stabilized on maintenance buprenorphine if having comorbid opioid use disorder.

Exclusion criteria

• Positive pregnancy test for females, traumatic brain injury, history of seizure disorder, history of or current diagnosis of schizophrenia, intracranial metal shrapnel.
• Previous adverse effect with TMS.
• Sub-threshold consistency while performing behavioral tasks.
• Failure to show baseline attentional bias to smoking versus neutral cues.