NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine
— Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FAC
The effect size is similar to that of antidepressant treatmen
Many smokers cite relief of psychological symptoms as a reason for continued smoking. However, the relation between smoking and mental health is unclear. In this meta-analysis of 26 prospective, observational studies conducted in various countries worldwide, investigators compared changes in mental health (anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety and depression, quality of life, positive affect, and stress) at ≥6 weeks’ post–moking cessation with changes after thesame amount of time in people who continued to smoke.After a median follow-up of 6 to 12 months, smoking cessation, compared with continued smoking, was associat with significant decreases in anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety and depression, and stress and significant
increases in psychological quality of life and positive affect (all measured via questionnaires). The effect size was similar in participants from general populations and those with physical or psychiatric illnesses.
Dr. Mueller is Associate Editor,
NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine, and Chair of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Associate Professor, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
Taylor G et al. Change in mental health after smoking cessation: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMJ 2014 Feb 13; 348:g1151.CLICK--> http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g1151)
