Psychiatry has been essentially uninterested in cigarette smoking and
nicotine. However, it is the view of this author that both cigarette
smoking and smoking cessation are highly relevant to the clinical
psychiatrist in the care of patients and that they are potentially a source
of important insights into psychopathology. To support that view, the
author reviews the evidence that both major depression and depressive
symptoms are associated with a high rate of cigarette smoking and that
lifetime history of major depression has an adverse impact on smoking
cessation. He also reviews the data available on the influence of cigarette
smoking cessation on the course of major depression, the relationship
between cigarette smoking and other psychiatric diagnoses, particularly
schizophrenia, and the neuropharmacology that might underlie these
associations. Finally, the implications of these relationships for
psychiatry are discussed.
Abstract Teaser