Smoking
cessation may improve mental health
Health
professionals who treat people with psychiatric problems often overlook their
patients' smoking habits, assuming it's best to tackle depression, anxiety or
substance abuse problems first. However, new research at Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that people who struggle with mood
problems or addiction can safely quit smoking and that kicking the habit is
associated with improved mental health.
"Clinicians tend
to treat the depression, alcohol dependence or drug problem first and allow
patients to 'self-medicate' with cigarettes if necessary," said lead
investigator Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, PhD. "The assumption is that
psychiatric problems are more challenging to treat and that quitting smoking
may interfere with treatment."
But in the study,
Cavazos-Rehg, an assistant professor of psychiatry, found that quitting or
significantly cutting back on cigarette smoking was linked to improved mental
health outcomes. Quitting altogether or reducing by half the number of
cigarettes smoked daily was associated with lower risk for mood disorders like
depression, as well as a lower likelihood of alcohol and drug problems.
"We don't know if
their mental health improves first and then they are more motivated to quit
smoking or if quitting smoking leads to an improvement in mental health,"
Cavazos-Rehg said. "But either way, our findings show a strong link
between quitting and a better psychiatric outlook."
In addition, she
believes the serious health risks associated with smoking make it important for
doctors to work with their patients to quit, regardless of other psychiatric
problems.
"About half of all
smokers die from emphysema, cancer or other problems related to smoking, so we
need to remember that as complicated as it can be to treat mental health
issues, smoking cigarettes also causes very serious illnesses that can lead to
death," she explained.
Cavazos-Rehg and her
team analyzed questionnaires gathered as part of the National Epidemiologic
Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions. In the early 2000s, just under 35,000
people were surveyed. As part of the study, they answered questions about
drinking, smoking and mental health in two interviews conducted three years
apart.
The researchers focused
on data from 4,800 daily smokers. Those who had addiction or other psychiatric
problems at the time of the first survey were less likely to have those same
problems three years later if they had quit smoking. And those who hadn't had
psychiatric problems at the initial survey were less likely to develop those
problems later if they already had quit.
At the time of the
first interview, about 40 percent of daily smokers suffered mood or anxiety
disorders or had a history of these problems. In addition, about 50 percent of
daily smokers had alcohol problems, and some 24 percent had drug problems.
Forty-two percent of
those who had continued smoking during the years between the two surveys
suffered mood disorders, compared with 29 percent of those who quit smoking.
Alcohol problems affected 18 percent of those who had quit smoking versus 28
percent who had continued smoking. And drug abuse problems affected only 5
percent of those who had quit smoking compared with 16 percent of those who had
continued smoking.
"We really need to
spread the word and encourage doctors and patients to tackle these
problems," Cavazos-Rehg said. "When a patient is ready to focus on
other mental health issues, it may be an ideal time to address smoking
cessation, too."
Story Source:
The above story is
based on materials provided by Washington University in St. Louis. Note: Materials may be edited for
content and length.
Journal
Reference:
1.
P. A. Cavazos-Rehg, N. Breslau, D. Hatsukami, M. J. Krauss, E.
L. Spitznagel, R. A. Grucza, P. Salyer, S. M. Hartz, L. J. Bierut. Smoking cessation is
associated with lower rates of mood/anxiety and alcohol use disorders. Psychological Medicine, 2014;
1 DOI: 10.1017/S0033291713003206
Cite This Page:
·
MLA
·
APA
·
Chicago
Washington University in
St. Louis. "Smoking cessation may improve mental health." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 February 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140211211129.htm>.