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Main Article Content
Cigarette smoking in an adolescent psychiatric population
Abstract
Objective. To examine the relationship between cigarette smoking and psychiatric symptomatology in an outpatient psychiatric population of adolescents.
Method. A retrospective analysis was done of 934 patient charts at an outpatient psychiatric centre.
Results. 48.4% of the psychiatric sample reported regular smoking behaviour, which is substantially more than the 18.1 % prevalence found in a local epidemiological study. In
comparing smokers and non-smokers within the psychiatric sample, it was noted that smokers were significantly younger and scored somewhat higher on depression rating
scales than non-smokers. A logistical regression, using quasi-Newton estimation, was chosen as the most suitable statistical method for building a classificatory model of
smoking. Two continuous variables, age and the Hamilton depression score, along with 39 discrete variables, were chosen for modelling purposes. Model building was conducted in a hierarchical fashion, starting with demographic variables, the variable selection being
controlled by using chi-square tests of model differences. A predictive model of smoking with nine variables was finally selected.
Conclusions. As a whole the results support the strong association between smoking and psychiatric problems, but in this adolescent sample smoking is more likely to be part
of a general risk-taking behaviour pattern than an attempt to medicate depression. Anti-tobacco campaigns that highlight the risks of smoking are therefore open invitations
for adolescents to take up the habit.
