Smokers are more predisposed to Depression than Nonsmokers

Researchers found that medications based on the action of nicotine could treat depression. Nevertheless, this does not mean that nonsmokers should start wearing a nicotine patch or that people with depression should smoke.

In United States smoking remains the No. 1 preventable cause of death and disability, with the addictive hazards of tobacco far outweighing the potential benefits of nicotine for depression.

But the findings suggested that it may be possible to manipulate nicotine’s effects to safely gain its potential medical benefits. As an example of the drug’s potential, they said, pharmaceutical companies already are developing compounds for treating other brain disorders by imitating the beneficial properties of nicotine while avoiding its addictive nature.

Scientists have established that people predisposed to depression are twice as likely to be smokers, and are less likely to succeed in quitting smoking after taking up the habit.

"Smokers may be more prone to depression than nonsmokers," said Edward Levin, Ph.D., a professor of biological psychiatry. In the study, the researchers recruited 11 people who did not smoke but who were experiencing symptoms of depression. Participants were randomly assigned to wear either a nicotine patch or a placebo patch that did not contain any nicotine. The researchers used a standardized method, a 20-item questionnaire called the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, to measure depression symptoms among the study participants.

The team researchers found that participants who wore the nicotine patch for at least eight days experienced a significant decline in their depression-assessment rating scores. They added that this finding indicates that the drug led to an improvement in depression symptoms.

Nicotine stimulates the release of specific neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, which carry messages between nerves cells.

Looking ahead to possible therapeutic uses of nicotine for treating depression, the researchers say the nicotine molecule can be manipulated to remove its addictive effect while maintaining its ability to increase levels of the various brain chemicals that can alter mood.

Currently, pharmaceutical companies are developing nicotine like drugs that target chemical imbalances in the brain that are thought to cause anxiety, schizophrenia, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The study also suggested that people prone to depression may need extra help in order to quit smoking, such as nicotine replacement therapy, the scientists added.

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