Schizophrenia and smoking: an epidemiological survey in a state hospital

Abstract

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.