title: Descriptions and correlates of salivary cotinine in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the procedure and results of salivary cotinine testing and to examine correlations between cotinine levels, self-reported smoking behavior, and other demographic variables in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). Twenty-one participants completed salivary cotinine measures. Sixteen reported smoking cigarettes (mean = 1.2 packs per day; SD = 0.8; range = 0.25 to 3.0) for a mean of 27.4 years (SD = 16.3 years, range = 1 to 46 years). Age was significantly positively correlated with self-report of packs smoked per day (r = 0.52; p = 0.04) and years smoked (r = 0.63; p = 0.02). There was no clear pattern of relationship between salivary cotinine level and self-reported smoking behavior. This pilot study adds to a small body of literature describing salivary cotinine measures in individuals with SSDs, yet further investigation is warranted to definitively determine the utility of this objective measure of nicotine use.
authors.forename: Lora Humphrey
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Carla Renee
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003367:Cotinine