Smoking and Depression Risk Reduction in a Primary Care Setting
Naveen Mahmood1, Shira Goldstein1, Alan Thiele1
1The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
|December 2, 2023
Summary
Smoking is linked to a higher risk of persistent depression symptoms. Addressing smoking cessation in at-risk individuals may improve mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Smoking is a significant risk factor for various diseases.
- A known association exists between smoking and depression.
- Never-smokers generally have a lower risk of depression compared to smokers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of smoking on depression risk reduction.
- To explore smoking's effect on depression in primary care patients at high risk.
- To inform smoking cessation strategies for individuals at risk of depression.
Main Methods:
- An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic medical records.
- Included patients aged 18+ with an initial depression risk score (PHQ-9) of 5 or higher.
- Logistic regression analyzed the association between smoking status and depression risk reduction (≥5-unit decrease in PHQ-9) at 6 months.
Main Results:
- The study included 120 patients (mean age 55, 74% female, 57% African American).
- 44% of patients had a history of smoking.
- Smokers showed decreased odds of improvement in depressive symptoms (OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.12-0.87).
Conclusions:
- Depression risk is more likely to persist in smokers at 6 months.
- Interventions targeting smoking behavior may benefit individuals at risk for depression.
- Addressing smoking cessation is crucial for managing depression risk.
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