Smoking tobacco increases risk of depression and schizophrenia, study warns

SMOKING tobacco may increase the risk of developing depression and schizophrenia, according to a new study.

Researchers from Bristol University analysed data from 462,690 people of European ancestry.

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Their study also showed people with the conditions are more likely to start smoking.

Dr Robyn Wootton, of Bristol University’s School of Experimental Psychology, said: “Our work shows we should be making every effort to encourage smoking cessation because of the consequences to mental as well as physical health.”

Another report from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) calls for more to be done to help smokers with mental health conditions to stop.

The Government's target is for every mental health trust to have a comprehensive smoke-free policy in place.

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The ASH report found that 18 per cent of those surveyed did not have one.

In 55 per cent of the trusts, patients were not always asked their smoking status on admission.

Smoking killed 78,000 people in England last year.

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