Heavier smoking habits, lower likelihood of quitting more common among those with depression
WEDNESDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with depression are more likely to smoke and be heavier smokers, and are less likely to quit smoking, compared to those without depression, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
According to the report, individuals age 20 and older with depression are more likely to be cigarette smokers than their nondepressed counterparts. Even adults who have only mild depressive symptoms are more likely to smoke than people with no depressive symptoms, and the percentage of adults who smoke tends to increase along with increases in the severity of depression.
The report further notes that men and women with depression have similar smoking rates, but women without depression tend to smoke less than men without depression. Adults smokers with depression also tend to have heavier smoking habits compared to adult smokers without depression, and adults with depression are less likely to quit smoking than those without depression.
"The few studies that have examined ability to quit smoking in persons with depression have shown that with intensive treatment, persons with depression can quit smoking and remain abstinent," according to the report. "These intensive cessation services often use treatments that are also used for depression, including cognitive-behavioral therapy or antidepressant medications."
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