Co-morbidity of smoking in patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders

Abstract

This article reviews cigarette smoking in patients with psychiatric disorders (PD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Rates of smoking are approximately 23% in the U.S. population but approximately two- to four-fold higher in patients with PD and SUD. Many remaining smokers have had repeated smoking cessation failures, possibly due to the presence of co-morbid PD and SUDs. There is modest, evidence-based support for effective treatment interventions for nicotine addiction in PD and SUD. Further research is needed to increase our understanding of nicotine addiction in PD and SUD and develop more effective treatment interventions.

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FIGURE 1

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in clinical samples of individuals with PD and SUD. Data were compiled from clinical studies of smoking prevalence in major PD and SUD. Abbreviations: SZ, schizophrenia; BPD, bipolar disorder; MDD, major depressive disorder; PD, panic disorder; OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.