Pattern Of Nicotine Use And Dependence In Psychiatric Patients Study

Background: Tobacco use is an epidemic known as “the brown plague” affec?ng one billion lives in the 21st century and 80% in developing countries. Prevalence of smoking is especially high in pa?ents with psychiatric illness with an ongoing debate over which comes first. Studies about nico?ne consump?on in psychiatric pa?ents are few from developing countries. Hence, this study is designed to iden?fy socio-demographic and diagnos?c correlates of nico?ne use. Aims and Objec?ves:- To es?mate the pa?ern of nico?ne use and determine the associa?on between sociodemographic profile, onset of nico?ne use, it’s use as a coping mechanism, psychological associa?on with nico?ne use in psychologically ill pa?ents. Material and methods:- A cross-sec?onal study including 101 pa?ents with nico?ne use and psychiatric illness were administered a semi structured ques?onnaire, Fagerstrom Test for Nico?ne Dependence(FTND) and nico?ne dependence syndrome scale. Data analyzed with mean, standard devia?on, chi- square, ANOVA Results:-Nico?ne use was more common in middle age group with alcohol dependence followed by depression. Nico?ne use was not associated with background, socioeconomic status, gender. Majority tried to quit for health but what kept them with nico?ne were drive, stereotypy, con?nuity, priority. Conclusions:- Nico?ne is a commonly abused substance in psychiatric pa?ents without a clear demarca?on about the cause effect rela?onship. The exis?ng study gives few insights into reasons for nico?ne intake which was more so among the produc?ve age group. Hence, there is a need for further research about psychotropic drug interac?ons with nico?ne use and focus on integra?on of nico?ne cessa?on into treatment of other psychiatric disorders rather than separate deaddic?on clinics to alleviate the illness burden.

The Correlation of Two Nicotine Dependence Measurement Methods: Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Saliva Cotinine among a Group of Muslim Smoker in Malaysia

Introduction: One of the known factors that hindered smoking cessation is nicotine dependence. Measurement of the nicotine dependence is important to better understand cigarette smoking addiction dependence and ways to overcome it. Among methods of nicotine dependence measurement are self-reported Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and biochemical assessment such as saliva cotinine. Biochemical assessment can be used to measure the accuracy of the self-reported measurement of nicotine dependence. Objective: To explore the correlation between the FTND and the saliva cotinine of the smokers in three different timeline. Methods: A total of 61 male smokers who currently smoke cigarette on daily basis were recruited. The study used the one-group pretest-posttest study design and the data were collected three times. The self-reported measurement were measured by using FTND and the biochemical assessment measured by using saliva cotinine from Saliva Bio oral swab (SOS) with the sensitivity of 0.15ng/ml. Data analysis was conducted by using Pearson correlation. Results: There was a significant association between the FTND score and saliva cotinine level of the smokers at baseline, second and third data collection (p=0.014, p=0.003, p<0.001). Conclusion: Both the self-reported measurement of nicotine dependence and biochemical assessment of the smokers are correlated and it could provide reliable information of the nicotine dependence.

Predictors of quitting behaviour with special reference to nicotine dependence among adult tobacco-users in a slum of Burdwan district, West Bengal, India.

Background & objectives: Information on predictors of quitting behaviour in adult tobacco users is scarce in Indian context. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the intention of tobacco-users towards quitting and its predictors with reference to nicotine dependence. Methods: A community-based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 adult tobacco-users (89.8% male) with mean age of 41.1 ± 15.7 yr selected by complete enumeration method. Data were collected by interview using pre-designed, pre-tested schedule. Nicotine dependence was assessed by Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire. Result: Of the 128 users, 63.3 per cent had intention to quit. Majority of the tobacco users who did not intend to quit belonged to the age group of >40 yr (66.0%), were illiterate (55.3%), started tobacco use at 11 – 15 yr of age (57.4%), had been using tobacco for 20 yr or more (70.2%), were daily tobacco users (91.5%), and highly dependent on nicotine (80.9%). Tobacco users having high FTND score and who started tobacco use early in life were 1.83 and 3.30 times more unintended to quit, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Suitable plan for quitting should be developed depending on the FTND score of an individual, the most important determinant of quitting that would be beneficial for categorization of the treatment leading to successful quitting.

The Usefulness of Heavy Smoking Index as a Test for Nicotine Dependence

BACKGROUND: The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a widely used six-item questionnaire. Its completion require a few minutes, but such time may be too much for busy clinicians and large epidemiologic surveys. The goals of this study was to compare the sensitivity and the specificity of Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) of high nicotine dependence. METHODS: The FTND was administered to 943 current smokers from a smoking-cessation clinic in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The HSI which combines two items of the FTND (the number of cigarettes per day and the time of the first cigarette of the day) was compared to the FTND. We measured cigarette per day, duration of smoking, and age of smoking initiation. RESULTS: A cutoff score equal or greater than 4 on the HSI detected a similar rate of nicotine dependence as a cutoff score equal or greater than 6 on the FTND. The HSI showed a sensitivity of 88.0% and a specificity of 86.5%. The concordance between the two instruments was high (kappa= 0.74). CONCLUSION: The HSI was proven to be very useful. If HSI had a proper validity, the HSI can be a good standard of high nicotine dependence for busy clinician and epidemiologists.

Utilização do teste de dependência à nicotina de Fagerstrõm como um instrumento de medida do grau de dependência / Use of the Fagerstrõm test for nicotine dependence as an instrument to measure nicotine dependence

O tabagismo é considerado a maior causa de morte evitável. O número de cigarros consumidos apresenta correlação com o aumento de incidência da doença aterosclerótica, podendo ser o maior contribuinte para o aumento do risco de doença em combinação com outros fatores de risco. É classificado como dependência de nicotina e está incluído no grupo de transtornos mentais e de comportamentos decorrentes do uso de substâncias psicoativas segundo a classificação da Organização Mundial da Saúde. No manejo de pacientes tabagistas, a utilização de um instrumento para avaliar o grau de dependência de nicotina é muito importante. Existe uma correlação entre nível de dependência nicotínica e resposta às diversas terapias. Pacientes com nível de dependência baixa poderão ser tratados apenas com abordagem cognitivo-comportamental. Os de grau mais elevado de dependência necessitarão de terapia farmacológica. Nesta revisão, observa-se que o teste de dependência à nicotina de Fagerstrõm (FTND) é utilizado mundialmente para avaliar a gravidade da dependência. Esse artigo apresenta uma revisão da literatura sobre o FTND como instrumento de avaliação no manejo de pacientes tabagistas

Tobacco smoking is considered the leading cause of avoidable death. Use of cigarettes presents correlation with increased incidence of atherosclerotic disease and could be the largest contributor to growth in risk of diseases combined with other factors. It is classified as nicotine dependence and is included in the group of mental disorders and behaviors caused by use of psychoactive substances by the World Health Organization. It is important to have an instrument to evaluate the degree of nicotine dependence in the management of smokers. There is a correlation between degree of nicotine dependence and response to different treatments. Smokers with lower degree of dependence can be treated only with the cognitive behavioral approach. Those with higher degree require pharmacological therapy. This review of literature showed that the Fagerstrõm test for nicotine dependence (FTND) is used worldwide to evaluate severity of nicotine dependence. This article presents a review of FTND as an evaluation instrument in the management of smokers