A Comparative Study to Assess the Clinical Association of Nicotine Dependence in Patients with Schizophrenia

Dr. Navya Jyani, Dr. Aditya Soni, Dr. Rohan Bhargava

Abstract: Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder with a high prevalence of nicotine dependence. The co-occurrence of these two conditions poses challenges to prognosis and treatment. Objectives: To compare the severity of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia in patients with and without nicotine dependence and assess the relationship between illness duration and nicotine dependence severity. Methods: This cross-sectional, comparative study included 66 patients with schizophrenia (DSM-5 criteria), divided into nicotine-dependent (n=33) and non-dependent (n=33) groups. Assessments included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Fagerstr?m Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND/FTND-ST). Results: Both groups were statistically comparable in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. Nicotine-dependent patients had significantly higher PANSS positive (23.5?±?5.3 vs. 18.6?±?4.9; p<0.001) and negative scores (20.4?±?5.5 vs. 16.0?±?5.2; p=0.001). A significant relationship was found between longer illness duration and greater nicotine dependence (p=0.007). Conclusion: Nicotine dependence is associated with increased symptom severity in schizophrenia and correlates with chronicity of illness, underscoring the need for integrated smoking cessation interventions in schizophrenia care.

Keywords: schizophrenia symptoms, nicotine dependence, illness duration, PANSS score, smoking cessation strategies

How to Cite?: Dr. Navya Jyani, Dr. Aditya Soni, Dr. Rohan Bhargava, "A Comparative Study to Assess the Clinical Association of Nicotine Dependence in Patients with Schizophrenia", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1007-1009, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25819213810, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25819213810