Scientists from the University of Bristol found smoking increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by between 53% and 127% and of developing depression by 54% to 132%.
The research was presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress and was conducted by Professor Marcus Munafo et al.
In the study, the team found rates of smoking are much higher among people with mental health conditions than those without, and among England’s 6 million smokers there are an estimated:
230,000 smokers with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), and 1.6 million with depression and anxiety.
The team says 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.
Smokers with mental health conditions can quit with the right support from healthcare professionals.
The researchers say that stopping smoking changed my life for the better, both physically and mentally. It is shocking to learn that smoking could have been one of the reasons for depression.
While the NHS has started to roll out support to quit for those with severe mental illness there is little provision for those with common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety—a plan is needed.
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.
If you care about smoking, please read studies about the cause of weight gain after smoking cessation, and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about smoking, please see recent studies about new drug that could help treat depression effectively, and results showing scientists find silent sleep danger for smokers
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