162762 Tobacco use among those with serious psychological distress

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Brett T. Hagman, MA , University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health, New Brunswick, NJ
Cristine D. Delnevo, PhD, MPH , School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
Mary Hrywna, MPH , School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
Jill Williams, MD , University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, New Brunswick, NJ
Background: Several small scale clinical studies have documented high rates of tobacco use among those with mental health disorders while there have been relatively few population studies examining the extent of tobacco use among this disadvantaged group. We sought to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and its related correlates among those with and without serious psychological distress (SPD) using data from the 2005 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Methods: The NSDUH is an annual, national probability-based, household survey. We examined data from 37,277 adults who were > 18 years. The K6 scale, a validated screening tool, measured SPD and assesses the frequency of SPD symptoms in the respondent's worst month emotionally in the past year.

Results: Our analyses indicated that individuals with SPD (11% of the sample) had notably higher rates of past month cigarette use (46.9%) compared to those without SPD (29.7%). Similarly, past month use of cigars and smokeless tobacco products was slightly higher for those with SPD. Common indicators of nicotine dependence (i.e., NDSS, FTND) indicated that those with SPD (55.4%, 57.1%, respectively) had higher rates of nicotine dependence in the past month compared to those without SPD (38.9%, 47.3%, respectively). Lastly, the quit ratio for SPD was 29% versus 49% for those without SPD.

Discussion: SPD was associated with elevated rates of tobacco use and dependence as well as greater difficulty achieving abstinence. Continued research is warranted to understand how effective tobacco control policies may impact this residual group of smokers.

Learning Objectives:
1) Participants will be able to identify the prevalence of tobacco use among those with mental health impairments. 2) Participants will be able to understand what specific public-health based interventions curtail tobacco use among this group. 3) Participants will identify rates of smoking among this group and be able to further understand specific mechanisms of action that underlie the types of interventions for this group.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Tobacco Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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