Author(s): Renata Marques de Oliveira, Jair Lício Ferreira Santos and Antonia Regina Ferreira Furegato
This study’s objective was to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the degree of tobacco dependence in those with mental disorders, hospitalized in the psychiatric unit of a general hospital. An exploratory study with the participation of 96 smokers, who have mental disorders, hospitalized in the psychiatric unit of a general public hospital between August 2010 – February 2012. Individual interviews were held using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). A questionnaire was administered for raising socio-demographic and clinical variables. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was undertaken. Of the 96 smokers, 53.2% had a high or very high degree of tobacco dependence. Those who had previously been hospitalized in a psychiatric unit (OR= 3.59) or who had somatic comorbidities (OR= 2.50) have greater chances of being classified as highly dependent on tobacco than do the other subjects. The variables of psychiatric hospitalization and somatic comorbidities are risk factors for a high degree of tobacco dependence. Knowing the factors involved in tobacco dependence can help in planning the care for the mentally ill.
