Smoking cessation services ‘can aid mental health of people with depression’

People with depression who successfully quit smoking with the help of dedicated smoking cessation services can often see mental health benefits, according to a new study.

Conducted by King's College London and the Charles University in Prague, the research studied people attending a stop smoking clinic in the Czech Republic, finding that successful quitters had a considerable improvement in their depression symptoms.

Indeed, 66.3 percent of those who experienced moderate or severe depression when smoking described no or minimal symptoms after a one-year follow up. It was also shown that those who received specialist behavioural support and medication from the clinic were more likely to remain smoke-free for a year if they went back for repeat visits.

However, the research also showed that people with depression were less likely to quit successfully than those without, even with the clinic's help.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer prevention, said: "This study draws attention to a vulnerable group who need more specialist support in their attempts to give up smoking."

Smoking is recognised as the single biggest factor contributing to a lower life expectancy associated with a mental health condition.

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