Tobacco dependence in psychiatry
Authors:
Eva Králíková 1,2
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav hygieny a epidemiologie 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze
1; III. interní klinika – klinika endokrinologie a metabolismu 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze
2
Published in:
Čes. a slov. Psychiat., 122, 2026, No. 4, pp. 140-146.
Category:
Review
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/cccsp202610
Overview
Prevalence of smoking among people with a mental disorder is more than double that of the general population; they are prone to developing a strong physical dependence on nicotine, which sets in easily in their case. They smoke very heavily – thus consuming a large number of cigarettes per day, taking deep and prolonged puffs, inhaling large amounts of toxic substances in the smoke, and holding the inhaled smoke in their lungs for a long time. Quite logically, smoking-related diseases are the most common cause of death among these patients. Symptoms of mental health conditions even improve after quitting smoking. Smokers with mental illness also generally prefer not to smoke, but quitting is very difficult for them, particularly due to significant withdrawal symptoms. They require long-term and intensive treatment, primarily pharmacological, lasting months or even years. If they stop smoking, it is possible to reduce the doses of many psychotropic medications, as the substances in cigarette smoke (not nicotine) reduce their effectiveness.
Keywords:
smoking – Tobacco – mental disorders – nicotine –treatment
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Labels
Addictology Paediatric psychiatry PsychiatryArticle was published in
Czech and Slovak Psychiatry
2026 Issue 4
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