SMOKING Increases Anxiety, Suicide Attempts

Everyone knows smoking is bad for them, but nicotine use among people who have bipolar disorder also raises the risk of suicide attempts, substance abuse, anxiety, and a worsening course of the disorder, new research has found.

Michael J. Ostacher, MD, and colleagues evaluated 399 outpatients who have BP disorder and found about 39% of them had a history of smoking. This history was associated with an earlier age of onset of the first depressive episode and the first manic episode, a history of anxiety disorder, a history of alcohol or substance abuse, a worsening course of the illness, and having made a suicide attempt.

The researchers said their findings indicate that more research is needed into the impact of smoking on BP disorder. The study was entitled “The Association Between Smoking, Suicidality and Clinical Course in Bipolar Disorder”.

Article Source: BP Canada Magazine (Summer 2006)