PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health

Smoking and schizophrenia: Understanding and breaking the cycle of addiction

by University of Montreal
April 18, 2016
in Mental Health
(Photo credit: Greg Jordan)

(Photo credit: Greg Jordan)

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Smoking addiction in schizophrenia can be explained by significantly increased activation of the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), a region involved in the brain reward system. These new data, the result of a study by researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CIUSSS EST, Montreal) and the University of Montreal confirms the tendency to smoke and low smoking cessation rates of people with schizophrenia.

“Smoking is a real problem for people with schizophrenia,” said Stéphane Potvin, a researcher at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal and lead author of the study. “Their health and life expectancy are often undermined by this addiction, whose brain mechanisms were until now largely unknown,” said the associate professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine.

Essentially, the research team observed greater neuronal activation of a specific region of the brain (vmPFC) in schizophrenia smokers compared with healthy subjects when presented with appetitive cigarette images. At the behavioural level, the researchers also found that schizophrenia smokers had more depressive symptoms than did participants in the control group.

“These observations suggest that smoking has a greater rewarding effect in schizophrenia smokers. This corroborates the hypothesis already formulated of their increased vulnerability to this addiction but also demonstrates the great difficulty for them when it comes to quitting smoking,” said Potvin.

The prevalence of smoking in people with schizophrenia is high, and cessation rates are low. Schizophrenia smokers are twelve more times likely to die from heart disease related to smoking than are those who do not smoke. “It is necessary to explore avenues that will help people in their efforts to free themselves from smoking,” said Potvin. “That is why we want to continue our research into whether this activation of the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is caused by the disease itself or by the effects of antipsychotics,” concluded the researcher.

About the study

In their study, the researchers used neuroimaging techniques to compare the brain responses of 18 schizophrenia smokers and 24 smokers without psychiatric disorders while viewing appetitive cigarette images. In addition, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their depressive symptoms (Beck II)

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePinSend

Get all the latest updates on new psychology research with the free PsyPost app.
 


NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

Study suggests that “highly sensitive persons” exhibit characteristics of vulnerable narcissism

Women who currently have or have recovered from anorexia perceive affective touch as less pleasant

Study suggests threesomes tend to be positive experiences, especially when shared with a romantic partner

Dark triad personality traits are related to specific types of humor, study finds

An attractive face is more likely to communicate warmth than competence, study finds

Exposure to cannabis cues increases brain activity among cannabis users, possibly triggering cravings

RECENT

Study suggests threesomes tend to be positive experiences, especially when shared with a romantic partner

Women who currently have or have recovered from anorexia perceive affective touch as less pleasant

An attractive face is more likely to communicate warmth than competence, study finds

Exposure to cannabis cues increases brain activity among cannabis users, possibly triggering cravings

People stigmatize BDSM practitioners more than the gay/lesbian population, according to a new study

  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
Powered by

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • About
    • Newsletter signup form
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Contact
  • Contact us
  • My account
  • Privacy policy
  • Psychology news
  • PsyPost app privacy policy
  • Shop
  • SmartMag Home

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.