New Delhi: Smoking increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by 53%-127% and depression by 54%-132%, a report by academics from the University of Bristol has said.
More research is needed to identify why this is the case, and more evidence is needed for other mental health conditions such as anxiety or bipolar disorder, it said.
The evidence was presented recently at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress.
One of the authors of the new report, Professor Marcus Munafo Professor of Biological Psychology at the University of Bristol, said: “There is no longer any doubt that smoking is bad for mental health and this needs to be a priority in the forthcoming Tobacco Control Plan.
“Those working with people with mental health conditions need to understand and address the vicious cycle of bidirectional effects, whereby having symptoms of mental illness causes individuals to smoke more and to be more likely to become addicted.
“At the same time, smoking also increases the risk of subsequent mental illness and exacerbates mental health symptoms. Lower rates of smoking will improve overall levels of good mental health as well as physical health.”
Alongside the report a joint publication by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Public Mental Health Implementation Centre sets out how a public mental health approach to smoking can be taken to address smoking and reduce poor mental health.
More research is needed to identify why this is the case, and more evidence is needed for other mental health conditions such as anxiety or bipolar disorder. Image is in the public domain
The NHS has pledged to put support in place for smokers on mental health wards and those accessing support in the community, but this is largely confined to those with severe mental illness. (Agencies)
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