Paradoxical association between smoking and olfactory identification in psychosis versus controls.
OBJECTIVE
Deficits in olfactory identification have been demonstrated in patients with schizophrenia. This study examined the interaction between smoking and olfactory identification in patients with psychotic disorders versus well controls.


METHODS
Olfactory identification was assessed in three groups of subjects using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Sixteen patients with affective psychoses, 22 patients with nonaffective psychoses, and 21 well controls were tested.


RESULTS
There was a significant interaction between diagnostic classification (patient or control) and smoking. Patients who were smokers scored higher on the UPSIT than non-smokers, while controls who were smokers scored lower than non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking may have a 'normalising' effect on olfactory identification in some patients with psychosis. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between psychosis, olfactory identification and the effects of nicotine.
McLean
Duncan
D
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, Queensland, 4076, Australia. duncan_mclean@qcmhr.uq.edu.au
Féron
François
F
Mackay-Sim
Alan
A
McCurdy
Richard
R
Hirning
Madonna
M
Chant
David
D
McGrath
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
D009538:Nicotine