title: [Relationship between smoking and anxiety and depression in primary care].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking prevalence in Portugal is estimated to be 19.7% (2005). Smoking is prevalent in anxiety disorders. Studies report that 60% of smokers have a history of depression. The Fagerström scale can be used to assess smoke dependence. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale allows an estimate of anxiety and depression. Our goal was to find whether there is a relationship between smoking and anxiety / depression in eight clinics within primary care practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical study. Anonymous survey. We considered as inclusion criteria the over 18 years of age and literate clinic users and as exclusion criteria the under 18 years old users or incomplete surveys. We defined as variables: Fagerström, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, age, marital status, gender, profession, schooling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained a total of 608 valid surveys of which there were 64% women and 21% smokers. We found no differences in the prevalence of anxiety or depression when comparing non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers. We found that the degree of nicotine addiction varies directly with anxiety and depression, however, the only statistically significant relationship observed was in women, even after correcting the effect of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a relationship between nicotine dependence and the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression, most relevant in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  selection bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supplies information regarding psychological factors associated with tobacco consumption, allowing for its inclusion in treatment options for nicotine dependence.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados Covilhã Norte. Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde Cova da Beira. Covilhã. Portugal. helderfarinha.saude@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Helder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farinha
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raposo de Almeida
authors.forename: Ana Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aleixo
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult