title: Smoking and psychiatric disorders in the rural and urban regions of Beijing, China: a community-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In China, there is limited information on smoking and its socio-demographic correlates in general, and in psychiatric patients in particular. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lifetime, current mild, and heavy smoking, the socio-demographic correlates of current smoking, and its relationship with psychiatric disorders in the Beijing municipality, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5926 subjects who met the study's entry criteria were randomly selected from the urban and rural areas of Beijing and interviewed using standardized assessment tools, including the collection of basic socio-demographic and clinical data. All subjects fully cooperated in the interviews and readily disclosed all of the information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of lifetime smoking was 35.9%; the rates for current mild and heavy smoking were 21.8% and 10.8%, respectively. An age of 24 years or above, male sex, married, divorced, separated or widowed marital status, relatively low level of education (less than college level), being employed, a relatively high monthly income (more than RMB500), rural abode, and having a psychiatric disorder were risk factors of current smoking. Both current mild and heavy smoking were significantly associated with alcohol dependence, and current heavy smoking was also associated with a history of a major depressive episode.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of smoking in the rural and urban areas of Beijing is unacceptably high. In addition to certain socio-demographic factors, smoking was associated with common psychiatric disorders. Nationwide surveys are warranted to further explore the prevalence of smoking in China. Effective strategies to reduce the high rate of smoking are also needed.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Zhuo-Ji
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Shu-Ran
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Hong-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ye-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Zhen-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhan-Jiang
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Kelly Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult