Antipsychotic medication and tobacco use among outpatients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Many studies have shown that the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenia is higher than in the general population. Biological, psychological and social factors influence smoking in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The study was carried out in psychiatry outpatient clinics in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. Every third patient was selected using systematic sampling from patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 clinical criteria. Smoking behaviours were assessed using self-reports. Severity of illness was assessed using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence assessed level of dependence. Readiness to Change Questionnaire assessed motivation to change smoking behaviour.