Why schizophrenics smoke

Nicotine may help lessen some symptoms of schizophrenia by increasing deficient levels of the chemical dopamine—which is thought to regulate key emotional responses—in areas of the brain such as the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. The nucleus accumbens is involved in reward and pleasure, and the prefrontal cortex organizes complex cognitive and social behaviors.

Since evidence shows that nicotine positively affects schizophrenia, scientists are exploring drugs that act like nicotine in the brain but do not have adverse health consequences. Researchers now are working on safer and less toxic drugs that potentially could enhance cognition. These drugs may help treat schizophrenia. One type of nicotinic receptor, known as the alpha-7 receptor, is proving to be a major target for schizophrenia drug development.

These receptors are found in brain regions important for cognition, including the cortex and hippocampus. Already, scientists have completed preliminary tests of drugs for schizophrenic nonsmokers based on a toxin, called anabaseine, found in marine worms and ants. Subjects showed improved sensory processing and cognition, especially attention. Scientists continue to research the biology and function of different nicotinic receptors.

As knowledge advances, so will development of new and safer drugs to help treat schizophrenia. Hopefully, better symptom control also will lessen the desire for nicotine, and help people with schizophrenia snuff out smoking. See how discoveries in the lab have improved human health. Read More. Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling mental condition that affects more than 21 million people globally and over 1 percent of the United States adult population every year.

A significant number of studies have shown the condition to be a brain disorder, with brain imaging techniques revealing that neurological impairment often accompanies schizophrenia. One of the neurological abnormalities that former research has linked to schizophrenia is a decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex PFC.

The PFC also helps us to stay in control during stressful events, and deals with short-term and long-term memory. A new study, published in the journal Nature Medicine , suggests that nicotine may be able to help schizophrenia patients. Hypofrontality is thought to cause many of the cognitive problems associated with schizophrenia, including difficulty making decisions, focusing, or remembering things.

Nearly 90 percent of people with schizophrenia smoke, most of them being heavy smokers, and 60 to 70 percent of people with bipolar disorder also smoke. Additionally, research has shown an association between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and a polymorphic variation of the CHRNA5 gene. If so, how does that happen, and can nicotine do anything to stop this process?

A collaborative international research agenda, with partnerships between bodies overseeing mental health treatment and smoking cessation, would likely add momentum to research efforts.

Using existing structures to support an international collaborative effort between national psychiatry, mental health, and tobacco control research societies is likely to provide a solid platform for research growth in this area. These societies can connect researchers and break down research siloes. Strategic and targeted funding from international and national organisations focussed on supporting innovation in treatment for smokers with schizophrenia is critical.

Finally, it is imperative that we grow our research capacity in this field, bringing together academic researchers and clinicians to ensure research innovations are translated into policy and practice change. DC, AB and BB all collaborated in the construction of the editorial, shared the writing between them, and all approved the final version. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be constructed as a potential conflict of interest.

Psychiatry The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author s and the copyright owner s are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. The underlying molecular mechanisms of these nicotine effects are currently under intensive investigation.

Summary: Heavy smoking in schizophrenia cannot simply be viewed as a 'bad habit'.