Nicotine Dependence, Major Depression, and Anxiety in Young Adults

TLDR

DSM‑III‑R criteria for nicotine dependence allow distinguishing dependent from non‑dependent smokers and enable assessment of psychiatric disorder prevalence among each group. The study aimed to examine whether nicotine dependence severity predicts comorbidity with other substance dependence, major depression, and anxiety disorders in a random sample of 1,007 young adults. Researchers assessed participants using the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule, revised for DSM‑III‑R, in the Detroit area. Lifetime nicotine dependence prevalence was 20 %; it was linked to alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine dependence, and, after adjusting for other substances, was associated with higher rates of major depression and anxiety, with associations strengthening at greater dependence severity, whereas non‑dependent smokers showed increased substance dependence but not depression or anxiety.

Abstract

• To determine whether nicotine dependence, classified by level of severity, was associated with other substance dependence, major depression, and anxiety disorders, we studied a random sample of 1007 young adults in the Detroit (Mich) area using the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule, revised according to<i>DSM-III-R</i>. The systematic coverage of<i>DSM-III-R</i>criteria of nicotine dependence provides an unprecedented opportunity to separate persons with nicotine dependence from the larger class of persons with a history of smoking and to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among persons with nicotine dependence and among nondependent smokers. The lifetime prevalence of nicotine dependence was 20%. Nicotine dependence was associated with alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine dependence. Controlling for the effects of other substance dependencies, persons with nicotine dependence had higher rates of major depression and anxiety disorders. The strength of these associations varied by level of severity of nicotine dependence. Nondependent smokers had higher rates of other substance dependencies, but not of major depression or anxiety disorders.