Smoking among Chinese patients with schizophrenia

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking among Chinese with schizophrenia, and to determine if smokers and nonsmokers differ in their age of onset of illness and neuroleptic requirement.

One hundred and ninety-five patients were assessed by a single rater using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Simpson-Angus Scale. Other historical, demographic and treatment variables were recorded from case records and interviews with patients and family members.

A higher rate of smoking was found in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population. There was no significant difference between the smokers and non-smokers in their respective neuroleptic dosages and extrapyramidal side-effects but the smokers had a significantly higher BPRS score.

Racial difference is proposed to account for this discrepancy from other Western studies. The contribution of nicotine towards aggravating schizophrenic symptoms is also considered.