AzTrials
AzTrials

Smoking CessationESTxENDSNCT03603340

The ESTxENDS Trial- Substudy on the Effects of Using Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) on Depression

A study testing ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling and Smoking cessation counseling in people with Smoking Cessation and Depression, run by University of Bern at 5 sites in Switzerland.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

--> This is a substudy of the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989). Depression outcomes should be considered secondary outcomes of the main smoking cessation outcome formulated in NCT03589989. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Smoking Cessation, Depression
What is being tested?
ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling and Smoking cessation counseling
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,246 participants
Where
5 sitesSwitzerland
Study dates
16 Jul 2018to 31 Aug 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Informed Consent as documented by signature
  • Persons aged 18 or older
  • Currently smoking 5 or more cigarettes a day for at least 12 months
  • Willing to try to quit smoking within the next 3 months,
  • Persons providing a valid phone number, a valid email address and/or a valid postal address.

Who cannot join

  • Known hypersensitivity or allergy to contents of the e-liquid
  • Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding the baseline visit and during the present study where interactions are to be expected
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
  • Intention to become pregnant during the course of the scheduled study intervention, i.e. within the first 6-months of the study
  • Persons having used ENDS or tobacco heating systems regularly in the 3 months preceding the baseline visit
  • Persons having used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other medications with demonstrated efficacy as an aid for smoking cessation such as varenicline or bupropion within the 3 months preceding the baseline visit
  • Persons who cannot attend the 6- month follow-up visit for any reason
  • Cannot understand instructions delivered in person or by phone, or otherwise unable to participate in study procedures

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country.

5 sites in 1 country

Switzerland5 sites
  • University Clinic for General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital

    Bern, 3010

  • Département de médecine interne, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève

    Geneva, 1211

  • Unisanté, Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, Université de Lausanne

    Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011

  • Lungenzentrum, Klinik für Pneumologie und Schlafmedizin, Kantonsspital St. Gallen

    Sankt Gallen

  • Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich

    Zurich

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: Efficacy, Safety and Toxicology of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems as an Aid for Smoking Cessation (ESTxENDS Trial)- the Depression Substudy of ESTxENDS

--> This is a substudy of the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989). Depression outcomes should be considered secondary outcomes of the main smoking cessation outcome formulated in NCT03589989.

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Switzerland and still more than a quarter of the Swiss population smokes cigarettes. Smoking and depression are strongly associated. Individuals with depression are twice as likely to be smokers than persons without a depression. Studies have shown that attempts to quit tobacco smoking are more likely to fail for individuals with depression than without. Depressive symptoms are common in prolonged nicotine withdrawal and individuals with depression are more nicotine dependent and more likely to suffer depressive symptoms during nicotine withdrawal compared to smokers in the general population.

Read more

Recently, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; also called vaporizer or electronic cigarette) have become popular with smokers who want to stop smoking or reduce their exposure to inhaled chemicals since ENDS use appears to be safer than tobacco smoking. ENDS with nicotine containing e-liquids may be effective in assisting with tobacco smoking cessation without suffering depressive symptoms.

This study will therefore test the efficacy of ENDS for cigarette smoking cessation, the safety of ENDS on adverse events and the effect of ENDS on health-related outcomes such as depression and exposure to inhaled chemicals.

For the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989), cigarette smokers motivated to quit smoking cigarettes will be included. Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Presence and severity of depression will be assessed using the 9-question depression scale from the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline and at 6, 12 and 24 months' follow-up.

Being tested
ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling, Smoking cessation counseling
Medical subject headings
Smoking Cessation, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counselingOther

    Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.

  • Smoking cessation counselingOther

    Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.

Study groups in NCT03603340
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intervention groupExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling
Control groupActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Other: Smoking cessation counseling

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Assessment of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression_1

    Measured using the 9-question depression scale from the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is it is used to monitor the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day).

    Measured: 6 months post quit date

  2. Assessment of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression_2

    Measured using the 9-question depression scale from the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is it is used to monitor the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day).

    Measured: 12 months post quit date

  3. Assessment of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression_3

    Measured using the 9-question depression scale from the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is it is used to monitor the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day).

    Measured: 24 months post quit date

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Assessment of change of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression

    Measured using the 9-question depression scale from the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is it is used to monitor the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day).

    Measured: Change from baseline to 6,12, 24 months post quit date

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Jul 2018
  2. Study start16 Jul 2018
  3. Primary completion31 Aug 2023
  4. Study completion31 Aug 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
1,246 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03603340
Sponsor's protocol ID
2017-02332f
Other IDs
2017
Acronym
ESTxENDS
Status last verified
Nov 2023
First submitted
2 Jul 2018
Last updated
15 Nov 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Hall SM, Humfleet GL, Munoz RF, Reus VI, Robbins JA, Prochaska JJ. Extended treatment of older cigarette smokers. Addiction. 2009 Jun;104(6):1043-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02548.x. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

    PubMed 19392908
  • Kalman D, Morissette SB, George TP. Co-morbidity of smoking in patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders. Am J Addict. 2005 Mar-Apr;14(2):106-23. doi: 10.1080/10550490590924728.

    PubMed 16019961
  • Lasser K, Boyd JW, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein DU, McCormick D, Bor DH. Smoking and mental illness: A population-based prevalence study. JAMA. 2000 Nov 22-29;284(20):2606-10. doi: 10.1001/jama.284.20.2606.

    PubMed 11086367
  • Ziedonis D, Hitsman B, Beckham JC, Zvolensky M, Adler LE, Audrain-McGovern J, Breslau N, Brown RA, George TP, Williams J, Calhoun PS, Riley WT. Tobacco use and cessation in psychiatric disorders: National Institute of Mental Health report. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008 Dec;10(12):1691-715. doi: 10.1080/14622200802443569.

    PubMed 19023823
  • Glassman AH. Cigarette smoking: implications for psychiatric illness. Am J Psychiatry. 1993 Apr;150(4):546-53. doi: 10.1176/ajp.150.4.546.

    PubMed 8465868
  • Weinberger AH, Pilver CE, Desai RA, Mazure CM, McKee SA. The relationship of major depressive disorder and gender to changes in smoking for current and former smokers: longitudinal evaluation in the US population. Addiction. 2012 Oct;107(10):1847-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03889.x. Epub 2012 May 17.

    PubMed 22429388
  • Bolam B, West R, Gunnell D. Does smoking cessation cause depression and anxiety? Findings from the ATTEMPT cohort. Nicotine Tob Res. 2011 Mar;13(3):209-14. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntq244. Epub 2011 Feb 17.

    PubMed 21330275
  • Gierisch JM, Bastian LA, Calhoun PS, McDuffie JR, Williams JW Jr. Smoking cessation interventions for patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Mar;27(3):351-60. doi: 10.1007/s11606-011-1915-2. Epub 2011 Oct 26.

    PubMed 22038468
  • Weinberger AH, Mazure CM, Morlett A, McKee SA. Two decades of smoking cessation treatment research on smokers with depression: 1990-2010. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Jun;15(6):1014-31. doi: 10.1093/ntr/nts213. Epub 2012 Oct 25.

    PubMed 23100459
  • Rihs A, Schoeni A, Scharf T, Jakob J, Tal K, Jacot-Sadowski I, Humair JP, Frei A, Brutsche M, Rodondi N, Auer R, Baggio S. Effect of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation on depressive and anxiety symptoms: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2025 Mar-Apr;93:67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2025.01.011. Epub 2025 Jan 16.

    PubMed 39827790

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling and Smoking cessation counseling in people with Smoking Cessation and Depression, run by University of Bern at 5 sites in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Nov 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Assessment of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression_1 (time frame: 6 months post quit date). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03603340, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Nov 2023.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in