Cigarette smoking in patients with schizophrenia in China: prospective, multicentre study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to explore the rate of cigarette smoking and its sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in Chinese schizophrenia patients.


METHODS
In a multicentre, randomized, controlled, longitudinal study, 374 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia were interviewed at entry using standardized assessment instruments, and followed up for 1-2 years.


RESULTS
The rate of cigarette smoking was 13.9% in the whole sample, and 26.2% in men and 3.5% in women. On univariate analysis, male sex, unemployment, alcohol consumption, older age, older age at onset, longer duration of illness, more frequent admissions, more severe hostility-excitement at entry and less deterioration in hostility-excitement over the study period were significantly associated with cigarette smoking. On multivariate analysis, male sex, unemployment, alcohol consumption, more frequent admissions, less severe positive and negative symptoms at entry, smaller decline in negative symptoms and more deterioration in disorganized thoughts over the study period were independently associated with cigarette smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of cigarette smoking in Chinese schizophrenia patients is considerably lower than most figures reported in the Western literature.
Wang
Chuan-Yue
CY
Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xiang
Yu-Tao
YT
Weng
Yong-Zhen
YZ
Bo
Qi-Jing
QJ
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Chan
Sandra S M
SS
Lee
Edwin H M
EH
Ungvari
Gabor S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000523:psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data