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Smoking in relation to anxiety and depression: Evidence from a large population survey: The HUNT study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Arnstein Mykletun ,
Simon Overland ,
Leif Edvard Aarø ,
Hanne-Marthe Liabø  and
Robert Stewart
Arnstein Mykletun*
Affiliation:
University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Research Centre for Health Promotion, Christiesgt 13, N-5015Bergen, Norway King's College London (Institute of Psychiatry), Health Service and Population Health Department, London, UK Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, Oslo, Norway
Simon Overland
Affiliation:
University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Research Centre for Health Promotion, Christiesgt 13, N-5015Bergen, Norway
Leif Edvard Aarø
Affiliation:
University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Research Centre for Health Promotion, Christiesgt 13, N-5015Bergen, Norway
Hanne-Marthe Liabø
Affiliation:
University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Research Centre for Health Promotion, Christiesgt 13, N-5015Bergen, Norway
Robert Stewart
Affiliation:
King's College London (Institute of Psychiatry), Health Service and Population Health Department, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgt 13, N-5015 Bergen, Norway. Tel.: +47 91689600; fax: +47 90402307. E-mail address: arnstein.mykletun@uib.no (A. Mykletun).
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Abstract

Smoking is reported to be associated with depression and anxiety. The present study (a) examines these associations taking comorbidity into account, (b) investigates possible confounders, (c) examines how former smokers compared to current and never-smokers in terms of anxiety and depression, and if anxiety and depression decline by time since cessation. Participants (66%) aged 20–89 years in a population-based health survey (N = 60,814) were screened employing the HADS. (a) The association with smoking was strongest in comorbid anxiety depression, followed by anxiety, and only marginal in depression. Associations were stronger in females and younger participants. (b) Variables partly accounting for the association comprised somatic symptoms, socio-demographics, alcohol problems, and low physical activity. (c) Anxiety and depression were most common in current smokers, followed by quitters, and then never-smokers. No decline in anxiety or depression was found with time since cessation. Previous studies of associations between depression and smoking might have overestimated the association when ignoring comorbid anxiety.

Keywords

SmokingAnxietyDepressionEpidemiologyComorbidity
Type
Original articles
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , March 2008 , pp. 77 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2008

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