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Quitting smoking does not increase the risk of major depressive episodes among users of Internet smoking cessation interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2009

L. D. Torres ,
A. Z. Barrera ,
K. Delucchi ,
C. Penilla ,
E. J. Pérez-Stable  and
R. F. Muñoz
L. D. Torres
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
A. Z. Barrera
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
K. Delucchi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
C. Penilla
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
E. J. Pérez-Stable
Affiliation:
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
R. F. Muñoz*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: R. F. Muñoz, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry at San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Suite 7M, San Francisco, CA94110, USA. (Email: ricardo.munoz@ucsf.edu)
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Abstract

Background

Limited evidence has suggested that quitting smoking increases the incidence of major depressive episodes (MDEs), particularly for smokers with a history of depression. Further evidence for this increase would have important implications for guiding smoking cessation.

Method

Spanish- and English-speaking smokers without a current MDE (n=3056) from an international, online smoking cessation trial were assessed for abstinence 1 month after their initial quit date and followed for a total of 12 months. Incidence of screened MDE was examined as a function of abstinence and depression history.

Results

Continued smoking, not abstinence, predicted MDE screened at 1 month [smoking 11.5% v. abstinence 7.8%, odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.78, p=0.02] but not afterwards (smoking 11.1% v. abstinence 9.8%, OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77–1.45, p=0.74). Depression history predicted MDE screened at 1 month (history 17.1% v. no history 8.6%, OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.29–2.27, p<0.001) and afterwards (history 21.7% v. no history 8.3%, OR 3.87, 95% CI 2.25–6.65, p<0.001), although the interaction between history and abstinence did not.

Conclusions

Quitting smoking was not associated with increased MDE, even for smokers with a history of depression, although a history of depression was. Instead, not quitting was associated with increased MDE shortly following a quit attempt. Results from this online, large, international sample of smokers converge with similar findings from smaller, clinic-based samples, suggesting that in general, quitting smoking does not increase the incidence of MDEs.

Keywords

DepressionMDEself-medication hypothesissmokingsmoking cessationtobacco
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 3 , March 2010 , pp. 441 - 449
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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