Stages of change in smokers with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and in the general population.
This study compared smoking behavior and motivation to quit smoking, assessed with a "stages of change" questionnaire, in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and in a representative sample of the general population. We conducted a mail survey in a representative sample of the general population of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1996 (n = 742); and a survey of 151 patients with schizophrenia (84%) or schizoaffective disorder (16%) who attended a Geneva ambulatory psychiatric clinic in 2000. There were more smokers (70% vs. 28%, p < 0.001) in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder than in the general population, and fewer ex-smokers (15% vs. 52%, p < 0.001). Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder smoked more than smokers in the general population (22 vs. 16 cigarettes per day, p < 0.001). Among current smokers, the distribution of stages of change was similar in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (precontemplation 79%, contemplation 18%, preparation 3%) and in the general population sample (74%, 22%, and 4%, p = 0.6). In both samples, similar proportions of smokers had made an attempt to quit in the previous year (27% vs. 22%, p = 0.3). These results suggest that a substantial minority of smokers with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder are motivated to quit smoking, try to quit, and succeed in quitting.
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Case Postale, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Manuela
M
Etter
Sylvia
S
Mohr
Claire
C
Garin
Jean-François
JF
Etter
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires