Psychiatr. pro Praxi, 2010; 11(2): 66-69

Treatment of tobacco dependence in psychiatric ill patients

MUDr.Lenka Štěpánková^1,2, MUDr.Eva Králíková, CSc.^1,2

¹ Centrum léčby závislosti na tabáku III. interní kliniky –, kliniky endokrinologie a metabolizmu 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

² Ústav hygieny a epidemiologie 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

Among psychiatric patients smoking rates are 2–3 fold higher compared to the general population. In addition, they smoke more cigarettes/

day and inhale more intensively, have higher blood levels of tobacco smoke metabolites and their nicotine dependence is stronger.

This is all related to high smoking-related mortality and morbidity among patients with mental health problems.

Since treatment of tobacco dependence in psychiatric ill patients is specific, there are specific guidelines available in many countries.

Also the Czech Psychiatric Association of the Czech Medical Association introduced such guidelines in 2009. In this paper we summarize

recommendations based on the recent literature, on our own clinical experience, and on visit at Mayo Nicotine Dependence Centre, Mayo

Clinic, Rochester (USA) to give a basic scheme of short or intensive smoking cessation intervention in psychiatric patients.

Keywords: smoking, tobacco dependence, psychiatric patient

Published: March 1, 2010  Show citation