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What is smoking in bipolar disorder?

Tobacco smoking is very common among people with a mental illness, who often show particularly heavy use. This poses considerable health risks, potential interference with the metabolism of medications, as well as financial burden for the individual. Heavy cigarette use may contribute to increased mortality and reduced life expectancy.

What is the evidence for smoking?

Moderate to high quality evidence suggests small to medium-sized, increased rate of smoking in people with bipolar disorder compared to the general population, and compared to people with major depression. There was a small decreased rate of smoking in people with bipolar disorder compared to people with schizophrenia.

Moderate to low quality evidence suggests varenicline (champix/chantix) may reduce rates of smoking.

October 2021

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Last updated at: 9:59 pm, 26th October 2021
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary
Tags:  Smoking

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