Does nicotine cause mental health issues?

Or do people with mental health issues have a higher rate of using nicotine?

Scientific Publications - Youth and Young Adults

2008: The relationship between and cigarette smoking in depressive symptoms U S adolescents

• The present results suggest that, in childhood and early adolescence, disruptive disorder should be the focus of prevention and intervention efforts. Youths with disruptive disorder are at increased risk not only for developing mood disorder but also for other negative psychosocial outcomes, including smoking and the development of nicotine dependence with the health burdens that it entails.
• By contrast, nicotine dependence did not predict the onset of a psychiatric disorder.
• Citation: Griesler, P. C., Hu, M.-C., Schaffran, C., & Kandel, D. B. (2008). Comorbidity of Psychiatric Disorders and Nicotine Dependence Among Adolescents: Findings From a Prospective, Longitudinal Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(11), 1340–1350. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318185d2ad

1998: The relationship between depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking in US adolescents

• Adolescents with depressive symptoms were more likely than other adolescents to start smoking.
• Initiation of smoking may occur rapidly among adolescents who feel depressed, anxious, or experience frequent stressful events.
• Citation: Escobedo, L. G., Reddy, M., & Giovino, G. A. (1998). T he relationship between and cigarette sm oking in depressive sym ptom s U S adolescents. Addiction, 93(3), 433–440. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1998.93343311.x