An interventional study of Normal Nicotine Content research cigarettes and High Nicotine e-cigarette in Tobacco Dependence, sponsored by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-11.
Sponsored by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This study aims to determine the health effects of very low nicotine content in cigarettes, in conjunction with the availability of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) among smokers with mental health conditions (SMHC).
The specific objective of this study is to recruit a cohort of 240 current exclusive daily SMHC (diagnosed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and to measure a comprehensive battery of behavioral and health indicators at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after being randomized to use either normal nicotine content (NNC) Spectrum cigarettes (11.6 mg nicotine/cigarette) or very low nicotine content (VLNC) Spectrum cigarettes (0.2 mg nicotine/cigarette) while also having access to an electronic cigarette (containing either 0 nicotine or high nicotine e-liquid) in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 by 2 design. All participants will be followed up with a study visit 4 weeks after the final randomized visit to identify whether they have continued to use e-cigs/cigarettes and to assess their motivation in smoking abstinence.
Our central hypothesis is that key markers of harms to health (e.g. urinary NNAL, exhaled carbon monoxide, measures of addiction, and mental distress) will be significantly improved among SMHC who are provided VLNC cigarettes and high nicotine e-cigs.
968 studies on the registry are indexed under Tobacco Use Disorder; 128 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 88 is close to the median of 90 across 851 interventional studies indexed under Tobacco Use Disorder.
Browse Tobacco Use Disorder studies →Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 480 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.
Of its 56 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 42 (75%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants are provided with normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes (11.6 mg nicotine/cigarette) plus e-cigarette with high nicotine e-liquid.
Other: Normal Nicotine Content research cigarettes · Other: High Nicotine e-cigarette
Participants are provided with normal nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes (11.6 mg nicotine/cigarette) plus e-cigarette with zero nicotine e-liquid.
Other: Normal Nicotine Content research cigarettes · Other: Zero Nicotine e-cigarette
Participants are provided with very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes (0.2 mg nicotine/cigarette) plus e-cigarette with high nicotine e-liquid.
Other: High Nicotine e-cigarette · Other: Very Low Nicotine Content research cigarettes
Participants are provided with very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes (0.2 mg nicotine/cigarette) plus e-cigarette with zero nicotine e-liquid
Other: Very Low Nicotine Content research cigarettes · Other: Zero Nicotine e-cigarette
Research cigarettes with 11.6 mg nicotine/cigarette.
E-cigarette containing high nicotine e-liquid
Research cigarettes with 0.2 mg nicotine/cigarette.
E-cigarette containing zero nicotine e-liquid
Urinary NNAL (4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol)
Measure of tobacco-specific nitrosamine
Time frame: Week 16
Exhaled Carbon Monoxide
Measure of cigarette smoke exposure
Time frame: Week 16
Kessler-6 Score
Measure of serious psychological distress. This scale is a brief, self-report tool used to assess psychological distress. Scores range from 0-24, with higher scores indicating greater distress
Time frame: Week 16
Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index
Measure of cigarette dependence. This 10-item scale (with scores ranging from 0 to 20) was developed to measure cigarette dependence, where a score of 0 indicates no cigarette dependence and 20 indicates maximum cigarette dependence.
Time frame: Week 16
Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index
Measure of e-cigarette dependence. This 10-item scale (with scores ranging from 0 to 20) was developed to measure e-cigarette dependence, where a score of 0 indicates no cigarette dependence and 20 indicates maximum e-cigarette dependence.
Time frame: Week 16
Cigarette Abstinence
No cigarette use in the past 7 days and exhaled carbon monoxide \< 6ppm
Time frame: Week 20
| Milestone | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Completed | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Not completed | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Withdrew: Lost to follow-up | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Withdrew: Pi decision | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Milestone | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Completed | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Not completed | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Measure of tobacco-specific nitrosamine
| pg/mg creatinine | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary NNAL (4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol) | 505.6 ± 432.7 | 459.1 ± 312.8 | 373.3 ± 553.1 | 180.5 ± 218.2 |
Measure of cigarette smoke exposure
| parts per million | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaled Carbon Monoxide | 23.6 ± 9.4 | 25.2 ± 14.6 | 21.9 ± 24.5 | 12.6 ± 10.3 |
Measure of serious psychological distress. This scale is a brief, self-report tool used to assess psychological distress. Scores range from 0-24, with higher scores indicating greater distress
| score on a scale | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kessler-6 Score | 6.9 ± 5.9 | 5.7 ± 5.1 | 5.4 ± 5.9 | 5.9 ± 4.3 |
Measure of cigarette dependence. This 10-item scale (with scores ranging from 0 to 20) was developed to measure cigarette dependence, where a score of 0 indicates no cigarette dependence and 20 indicates maximum cigarette dependence.
| score on a scale | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index | 11.9 ± 3 | 11.5 ± 2.9 | 11.8 ± 4.3 | 9.4 ± 3.2 |
Measure of e-cigarette dependence. This 10-item scale (with scores ranging from 0 to 20) was developed to measure e-cigarette dependence, where a score of 0 indicates no cigarette dependence and 20 indicates maximum e-cigarette dependence.
| score on a scale | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index | 3.1 ± 3 | 5.8 ± 3.8 | 8.1 ± 5.2 | 5.8 ± 4.1 |
No cigarette use in the past 7 days and exhaled carbon monoxide \< 6ppm
| Participants | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cigarette Abstinence | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Collected over 20 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 3% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | 0/20 (0%) | 4/20 (20%) | 7/20 (35%) |
| NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | 0/20 (0%) | 4/20 (20%) | 11/20 (55%) |
| VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | 0/20 (0%) | 2/20 (10%) | 6/20 (30%) |
| VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | 0/20 (0%) | 1/20 (5%) | 8/20 (40%) |
| Event | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper respiratory infectionInfections and infestations | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Pregnancy lossPregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Lung infectionInfections and infestations | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Clostridium difficile infectionInfections and infestations | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Self-injurious ideationPsychiatric disorders | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Surgical and Medical Procedures, other back electrodesSurgical and medical procedures | 0/20 | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 |
| AlcoholismPsychiatric disorders | 0/20 | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 |
| Infections and infestations - Other, influenzaInfections and infestations | 0/20 | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 |
| Chest pain - cardiacCardiac disorders | 0/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 | 1/20 |
| DepressionPsychiatric disorders | 1/20 | 0/20 | 0/20 | 1/20 |
| Event | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suicidal ideationPsychiatric disorders | 1/20 | 5/20 | 4/20 | 2/20 |
| CoughRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 2/20 | 3/20 | 0/20 | 3/20 |
| DepressionPsychiatric disorders | 2/20 | 2/20 | 1/20 | 1/20 |
| HypertensionVascular disorders | 2/20 | 1/20 | 1/20 | 2/20 |
| Age, Continuous(years) | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | 43.9 ± 9.2 | 51.2 ± 10.4 | 44.6 ± 9 | 47.8 ± 12.1 | 46.9 ± 10.5 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 18 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 60 |
| Male | 2 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 20 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Asian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black or African American | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| White | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 71 |
| More than one race | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Region of Enrollment(participants) | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 80 |
| Cigarettes per day(cigarettes per day) | NNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | NNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + High Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | VLNC Cigarettes + Zero Nicotine Containing E-cigarette | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | 22 ± 11.7 | 18.8 ± 9.9 | 22.4 ± 8.6 | 17.6 ± 9.8 | 20.2 ± 10.1 |
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center