Smokers and psychiatric comorbidities

Alain Dervaux (1, 2, 3) , Xavier Laqueille (4)

1 CHU Amiens-Picardie
2 GRAP - Groupe de Recherche sur l'alcool et les pharmacodépendances - UMR INSERM_S 1247
3 IPNP - U1266 Inserm - Institut de psychiatrie et neurosciences de Paris
4 Service d’Addictologie « Moreau de Tours » [CH Sainte-Anne - APHP]

The prevalence of smoking in patients with psychiatric disorders is higher than the prevalence of smoking in general population. Smokers with psychiatric disorders are at a greater risk for medical morbidity and mortality, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancers, compared to those in the general population. Their life expectancies are considerably reduced (25 years). Tobacco-related illnesses are the leading cause of death in patients with psychiatric disorders. Smokers with psychiatric disorders report more severe withdrawal symptoms than those without psychiatric disorders. Withdrawal symptoms should be disentangled from those linked to psychiatric comorbidities. Approved pharmacotherapy, in particular nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline and bupropion, is recommended for nicotine-dependent smokers with psychiatric disorders. Quitting does not exacerbate pre-existing mental illness.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Alain Dervaux, Xavier Laqueille. Smokers and psychiatric comorbidities. La Presse Médicale, 2016, 45 (12, 1), pp.1133-1140. ⟨10.1016/j.lpm.2016.03.011⟩. ⟨hal-03590124⟩