European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: The rate of smoking in people with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder is at least two to three times more that in the general population. They consume more cigarettes per day and are less likely to quit tobacco. In treating schizophrenia and BPAD clinicians often ignore factors that are directly related to QOL and prognosis of disease. The evaluation and management of nicotine dependence in these patients can contribute to improving the outcome, reducing the disability and improving QOL along with decreasing the burden of disease on caregivers.
Aim and Objectives

Comparison of socio-demographic and various clinical variables related to tobacco use among persons with schizophrenia and BPAD.
To compare the impact of tobacco on QOL among persons with schizophrenia and BPAD.

Material and Method: This was a cross sectional study. Purposive sampling was done and total 60 patients were recruited. Various scales were applied and date thus collected was analysed using SPSS ver. 24.
Observation and Discussion: We found there was no significant difference between the two groups with sociodemographic profiles of two groups of patients except for education of patients. The difference of QOL scores was highly significant between tobacco users and non-tobacco users of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Within the bipolar disorder group, tobacco use seemed to affect quality of life significantly in the psychological (p 0.042) and social (p 0.028) domains of WHOQOLBREF. In the schizophrenia group, QOL was significantly affected in the psychological (p 0.026) and environmental (p 0.015) domains.
Conclusion: Tobacco dependence leads to significant differences in quality of life, so it should be addressed along with other psychopathological symptoms