Women who smoke are more prone to major depressive disorders, according to an Australian study. The findings have appeared in the October 2008 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne and Barwon Health observed a group consisting of 1043 Australian women. Their health was monitored as part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. They were also assessed psychiatrically. Associate Professor of Melbourne University, Julie Pasco led the study within the Clinical and Biomedical Sciences at Barwon Health.
The study revealed that women suffering from depression were more likely to be smokers than those who did not suffer from depression. As compared to non-smokers, the heavy smokers (those who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day) were more prone to depression.
The researchers also examined the longitudinal data to assess the risk factor among women prone to developing a new major depressive disorder. On the whole 671 women who had no history of major depressive disorders were observed. Out of the 87 smokers among these women, 13 (15%) developed major depressive disorders. Out of 584 non-smokers, about 38% (6.5%) suffered from major depressive disorders.
This indicates that non-smokers were at a lesser risk of developing major depressive disorders as compared to smokers. Previous research also indicated that smoking can lead to depression. In fact, smoking aggravates depression.
Earlier studies were done mostly using short- term frames. The present study was the first of its kind to be used to investigate smoking patterns by adopting longitudinal data which extends over a 10 year period.
Researchers opined that depression was a major contributor to the burden of global disease. Efforts should be made to discourage smoking and make people to quit.
