Daily smoking linked to recurrent depression
By Liz Lockhart
Previous depression, daily smoking and a lack of control over life situations have been found to 
be risk factors for repeat periods of depression according to a new Canadian study.
Around 65% of people with depression have recurrent episodes according to the study authors who also describe depression as a common disorder which can be associated with weight and dietary control, inattention to other health conditions and pain.
For the purposes of this study, 585 adults from Statistics Canada’s National Population Health Survey who had suffered depression in 2000/01 were studied by researchers.
Of these 585 participants:
- 65% were women whose average age was 38.5 years.
- 82% of these depressed individuals were in the middle to high income bracket.
- Over 50% of the depressed participants had at least one episode of depression in the following six years.
It was discovered that age, income and sex were not associated with future depressive periods but that it was daily smoking and difficulty in mastering life circumstances that were associated with long-term depression.
High levels of ‘mastery’ seemed to be effective in protecting against further depression. The study explains ‘mastery’ as being the sense of having control over one’s own life and circumstances.
Lead researcher, Ian Colman, Ph.D. said ‘History of depression is a well-known clinical indicator of future depressive episodes, however, smoking and mastery are more novel prognostic factors that are not well accounted for in current clinical practice.’
It would, therefore, appear that depressed individuals would benefit from help to quit smoking and classes in ‘mastery’.
‘Future research should evaluate the benefits of including smoking cessation and mastery in existing clinical guidelines for the treatment of depression,’ concluded Colman.
Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal
