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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
Nicotine dependence
1Dr. Berrettini is the Karl E. Rickels Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract:
PSYCHIATRISTS MUST BE CONCERNED with nicotine dependence (ND), because habitual smoking is so common among individuals with psychiatric disorders.(1) For example, approximately 90% of alcohol-dependent and opioid-dependent persons are also dependent on nicotine.(2,3) In addition, de Leon et al(4) found that approximately 80% of patients with schizophrenia are daily smokers. Given the long-term negative health consequences of daily smoking, psychiatrists must make treatment of ND in their patients a clinical focus.
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