title: Smoking and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: a pilot study.
abstract: The cross-sectional study assessed the associations among smoking status, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and psychiatric symptoms in 88 chronic schizophrenic outpatients with a stable psychic condition. Among the 49 smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was associated with the severity of cognitive symptoms of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. The authors suggest that smoking may alleviate cognitive deficits in schizophrenia by increasing dopaminergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal areas of the brain.
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Taiminen
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Salokangas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarijärvi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niemi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Syvälahti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012651:Self Medication; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*