lhsi writes "A recent publication on the British Medical Journal finds that stopping smoking improves mental health: "Change in mental health after smoking cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis" (CC BY-NC 3.0).
A lot of smokers claim that smoking has mental health benefits; reducing depression and anxiety, and for relaxation and relieving stress. However the study suggests this is likely mis-attributing the ability of cigarettes to abolish nicotine withdrawal as a beneficial effect on mental health. The study notes that some health professionals are reluctant to recommend stopping smoking as a way to help mental health problems due to the fear that it might make things worse, but this study suggests that it actually would help.
The main conclusion of the study:
Smoking cessation is associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and improved positive mood and quality of life compared with continuing to smoke. The effect size seems as large for those with psychiatric disorders as those without. The effect sizes are equal or larger than those of antidepressant treatment for mood and anxiety disorders."
(Score: 5, Funny) by bitshifter on Monday February 24 2014, @10:02AM
I have to start smoking and then stop? :-)
(Score: 1) by Yell0w on Monday February 24 2014, @10:27AM
I would +1 this comment, except i cant find the button :)
(Score: 4, Funny) by c0lo on Monday February 24 2014, @10:36AM
Yes. The more often, the better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 24 2014, @11:41PM
Good point. This study should be taken with a grain of salt until another study demonstrates that smoking can in the first place cause anxiety and depression.