SMOKING AND SUICIDALITY AMONG PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between smoking an d suicidality among psychiatric patients. Method: All psychiatric pati ents (N=1,217) from Kuopio University Hospital in eastern Finland were examined for current smoking, suicidal ideation, previous suicide att empts, and other risk factors by using a cross-sectional, multivariate design. Results: The probability of at least one previous suicide att empt was 100% higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers. Smokers al so had a 43% higher risk of experiencing mild to severe suicidal ideat ion than nonsmokers. Conclusions: Current smoking was significantly re lated to suicidality in multiple logistic models, even after several c onfounding factors were controlled. The independence oi this associati on seems possible, but the subject requires further research.