Mental Illnesses and Nicotine Withdrawal

      Researchers have found that those with mental illnesses are more prone to smoke cigarettes, are more likely to become addicted to nicotine, and are more likely to have a tougher time quitting smoking. Smokers with a mental illness ingest about 40-50% of cigarettes in the United States. Often, smoking among those who have mental illnesses, is done with the intention to self-medicate, in order to reduced psychiatric symptoms. This issue has begun to catch the attention of health professionals, as it seems that nicotine withdraw symptoms are more intense for individuals who have a mental illness.

         Researches decided to investigate this by conducting two studies. The first one dealt with comparing the likelihood of being diagnosed with nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms among both those with a mental illness and those without a mental illness. The second study involved exploring whether or not smokers with mental illnesses were more or less likely to make attempts to quit smoking. The study then examined if those with a mental illness were more likely to successfully quit smoking; and if they were, how nicotine withdrawal symptoms influenced their attempts. The information for study one was gathered by using the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The information for study two was collected by a phone call survey. Both studies were then evaluated through different analyses. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between mental health disorders and the severity of nicotine withdraw symptoms. Smokers with mental illnesses were more prone to be diagnosed with nicotine withdrawal symptoms than those without a mental illness. This study also found that those with mental illnesses, who were experiencing nicotine withdraws, experienced more troublesome symptoms. Also, that the type of mental illness correlated with how distressful the withdrawal symptoms were. 
         Because this research was based off of self-report surveys, and the second study was gathered by phone calls (thus causing a less reliable sample), there are certainly some limitations. However, the findings do address the importance of recognizing the probable connection between mental illnesses and nicotine withdrawal, and give health professionals new insight into helping those with mental disorders safely and effectively cope with nicotine withdrawal.

           

Smith, P. H., Homish, G. G., Giovino, G. A., & Kozlowski, L. T. (2014). Cigarette smoking and mental illness: A study of nicotine withdrawal. American Journal of Public Health, 104(2), E127-E133. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1499844969?accountid=12085

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