OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether smoking is related to
schizophrenia or neuroleptic treatment. METHOD: Cigarette smoking was
measured in all patients hospitalized at a state hospital (N = 360) and
compared in relation to gender and diagnosis (schizophrenic versus
nonschizophrenic). RESULTS: The overall frequency of smoking was 79% (N =
284). Male schizophrenic patients had the highest frequency of smoking,
followed by male nonschizophrenic patients, female schizophrenic patients,
and female nonschizophrenic patients, respectively. Schizophrenia and
polydipsia were associated with both smoking and heavy smoking.
CONCLUSIONS: After correction for other variables, schizophrenia appears to
increase the risk of being both a smoker and a heavy smoker. There was a
possible association between high doses of neuroleptics and smoking but
only for nonschizophrenic patients.Abstract Teaser