Smoking and Schizophrenic Psychopathology

Abstract

Individuals with schizophrenia use cigarettes at a rate significantly above that of the general population. A variety of explanations for this phenomenon are available, with none taking precedence. In this study the authors examined 80 schizophrenic individuals in an intensive community support program. Eighty‐eight percent are current smokers and smoking is significantly associated with overall psychopathology. When demographic variables are controlled, smoking does not contribute to medication use or tardive dsykinesia as inferred from the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. These results, although confirming some findings in the literature, underscore the importance of controlling for demographic variables, especially age, when analyzing for possible effects of smoking on schizophrenia.