title: How can we promote smoking cessation in people with schizophrenia in practice? A clinical overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High rates of smoking and nicotine dependence are associated with increased physical comorbidity and premature death in people with schizophrenia. We conducted a clinical overview to establish how smoking cessation should be promoted in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic clinical review of major electronic databases from inception till November 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A growing body of evidence supports pharmacological interventions to assist smoking cessation. The most promising evidence is for bupropion with several meta-analyses demonstrating its effectiveness. Currently, there is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and varenicline, although this is likely to be due to the paucity of research. There are no consistent data to suggest that pharmacological interventions increase adverse events. Behavioural and psychosocial interventions also demonstrate promise, particularly when combined with pharmacotherapy. Careful monitoring of antipsychotic levels (in particular clozapine) is essential, and the promotion of physical activity may be useful to negate potential weight gain and diabetes risk following smoking cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggests that smoking cessation interventions are effective in people with schizophrenia, although more long-term research is required. Promoting smoking cessation should be given utmost priority in clinical practice, and we offer practical strategies to facilitate this.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, University of Greenwich, Eltham, London, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vancampfort
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo - CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bobes
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Hert
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000067250:Psychiatric Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: psychosis; schizophrenia; serious mental illness; smoking; smoking cessation