Psychiatria pre prax 2/2013

Tobacco smoking and depression

In the present paper we review the links between tobacco smoking (tobacco dependence) and depression (monopolar depressive disorder). People suffering from affective disorders are more likely to be daily tobacco smokers than the rest of the population, moreover daily tobacco smoking and smoking cessation are prospectively associated with the risk of developing depressive syndrome. Smoking can influence the therapy outcome of the underlying disorder in different ways. The components of tobacco smoke (nicotine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, free radicals) play important role here. Tobacco may represent attempts of antidepressant self-medication modality in patients with affective disorders, but in the long-term context it increases the risk of failure in treatment. It is also possible that tobacco smoking also acts as a trigger of the first episodes of depression in susceptible individuals.

Keywords: smoking, tobacco, nicotine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, stress, depression, comorbidity.