Depression during tobacco abstinence.
Many clinicians and scientists believe smoking cessation increases the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD), especially among those with a past history of the disorder. This literature review located seven empirical tests of this belief. All seven had significant methodological limitations. The incidence of MDD over 7-64 weeks postcessation was 0%-14% among all smokers who tried to stop, 3%-24% among smokers with a past history of MDD who tried to stop, and 1%-31% among smokers who became abstinent. Smokers with a past history of MDD were more likely to have postcessation MDD. Although some within-study comparisons suggest abstinence increased the incidence of MDD, a definitive conclusion cannot be made. Whether treatment with antidepressants prevented postcessation MDD also was unclear. This review makes methodological recommendations for more definitive studies.
Hughes
John R
JR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401-1419, USA. john.hughes@uvm.edu
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome