A program to help individuals with bipolar disorder reduce tobacco use through future thinking.
Official title: Future self: An episodic future thinking intervention for comorbid tobacco use disorder and bipolar disorder
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11077784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called 'Future Self-BD' to help people with bipolar disorder who want to quit smoking by imagining positive future outcomes from stopping, and it aims to see how well the program works and if it's easy to use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,550 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DA058051-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and are also struggling with tobacco use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have bipolar disorder or who are not currently using tobacco may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new intervention called 'Future Self-BD' designed for individuals with bipolar disorder who also struggle with tobacco use. The program consists of six sessions where participants engage in vivid mental simulations of positive future events that could result from quitting smoking. The goal is to assess how acceptable and feasible this intervention is, as well as its potential to reduce the tendency to prefer immediate rewards over delayed benefits, which is common in both bipolar disorder and tobacco addiction. Participants will also receive support for smoking cessation efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel approach to help individuals with bipolar disorder quit smoking, improving their overall health and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on this intervention, similar approaches using future thinking have shown promise in other populations, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gold, Alexandra Kate — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gold, Alexandra Kate
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.