Conversation with Your Future Self About Nicotine Dependence

Abstract

Nicotine dependence continues to be one of the major contributors to the global disease burden, despite the wide variety of assessment and treatment techniques developed. Although VR has been used as an instrument to improve cue-exposure therapy techniques, the full extent of its power in the treatment of addictions has not been fully explored. In this paper, we utilize body-swapping, a VR specific paradigm, in order to facilitate a dialogue between the present self and the future self of the smoker about nicotine dependence. The experiment will compare the difference in Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, Stages of Change, Future-Self Continuity Scale and Perceived Risks and Benefits Questionnaire scores before and after the dialogue between three groups, each named based on who the participant is talking with: Present Self, Future Self Smoking Cessation, and Future Self Still Smoking. We expect this new approach to lower nicotine dependence and lead to long-term healthy behaviour choices as well as pave the way for novel VR-treatment techniques.