Quitting Smoking may Improve Mental Health in those with Psychiatric Illnesses

Kicking a nasty habit can be tough. There's just no two ways about it, and that certainly goes for smoking and the use of other tobacco products. In fact, despite health warnings, statistics show that an estimated 42.1 million people in the United States regularly smoke cigarettes, with 8.1 percent of all adults 18 years and up, and smoking being a bit more common among men than women. Unfortunately, smoking is also the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths or one in every five deaths each year.

As smoking can be quite addictive, a recent study shows that giving it up could have a dramatic impact on the mental health of some individuals. According to researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine, they discovered that people who struggle with mood problems or addiction can safely quit smoking and improve their overall mental health, as well.

"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, via a press release. "The assumption is that psychiatric problems are more challenging to treat and that quitting smoking may interfere with treatment."

For the study, assistant professor of psychiatry, Cavas-Rehg, found that by quitting or reducing cigarettes by half the number regularly used daily, participants could significantly lower their risk for mood disorders, such as depression, as well as the risk of alcohol or 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, via the release. "But either way, our findings show a strong link between quitting and a better psychiatric outlook."

For their research, the study authors examined data from 4,800 daily smokers who had addiction or other psychiatric problems at the beginning of the first survey. Results showed that they were less likely to have those same problems three years later if they had quit smoking. Findings also showed that those who did not have psychiatric problems were less likely to develop problems later if they already had quit.

"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."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Psychological Medicine.