For many years it was found that patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, smoke to excess. However, recent research shows that there is a recurring interest in the high prevalence of nicotine dependence in the treatment of schizophrenic symptoms. It was his turn to more and more clear that heavy smokers closely related to mental disorder and found that this may affect the neurobiology of the underlying disease.
In people with schizophrenia, smoking rate between two and four times higher esteem. most schizophrenics who smoke more cigarettes per day and take the smoke of strong brands that smokers used to.
Numerous studies and theories developed to explain why smoking, most people with this mental illness. Experts estimate that nicotine acts as a form of self-medication for people with schizophrenia, which causes many positive effects, although the negative effects of smoking on health in the long run.
Smokers with schizophrenia report that the practice reduces their symptoms. this was demonstrated by various studies that smoking directly to a reduction in negative symptoms of mental illness, lack of motivation, anxiety and social withdrawal confirmed linked. Experts in schizophrenia believe that this effect is caused by increasing the ability of nicotine to a level of dopamine in the brain regions in awareness and interaction with the environment of those affected.
Clozapine is a kind of atypical antipsychotics, that a reduction in negative symptoms seem to produce in a similar manner. on the other hand, there is no evidence that nicotine has an effect on positive symptoms of schizophrenia involves an abnormality in the content of the person with the idea. furthermore, if nicotine in smokers with mental illness away there is no increase in these symptoms.
Reduction of drug side effects schizophrenia is one of the reasons for excessive smoking schizophrenics. Stiffness and strength of the movement are examples of unpleasant side effects of neuroleptics. in addition, nicotine has been found to work against the harmful effects of antipsychotics on certain types of mental functions. A study of schizophrenic patients, a typical antipsychotic drug haloperidol has been found that drugs called nicotine patch fewer unpleasant side effects may be affected.
Areas of the brain in working memory, attention span involved, and motivation have a large number of receptors for nicotine molecule. Research and studies show that nicotine is the development of these functions, both in smokers with schizophrenia and Non smoking with psychiatric disorders. But people with schizophrenic symptoms generally show greater improvement than the general population. It can also genetic differences that identify the extent to which a person can be influenced by the higher intake of nicotine.
In view of these negative effects of nicotine on a person’s health, including increased risk of heart disease and cancer, experts believe that there is an urgent need for treatments that offer the benefits of nicotine without the threats to health in the long run.