Pattern of Cigarette Smoking in Psychiatric Patients Admitted at AFIMH

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of cigarette smoking in patients admitted at AFIMH.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Rawalpindi Pakistan from Dec 2014 to Jun 2015.

Methodology: All patients meeting the inclusion criteria admitted to Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health (AFIMH)
Rawalpindi for two or more days during the study period for any psychiatric disorder were enrolled in the study. The
demographic and study variables such as the age, gender, cigarette smoking pattern and psychiatric diagnosis were recorded on the study Proforma.

Results: Out of a total of 108 cases of psychiatric illness, 91(26%) were male while 17(15.74%) were females. The mean age was found to be 32.68±11.34 years. Smoking status of the patients was calculated as current smokers 46(42.59%) former smokers29(26.85%) and nonsmokers 33(30.56 %)

Conclusion: We concluded that the frequency of cigarette smoking is high in psychiatric inpatients. Therefore, it is
recommended that smokers with psychiatric disorders should be identified and provided with evidence based smoking
cessation services. However, it is also required that every psychiatric setup should devise and implement smoke free policies
with appropriate leadership and support strategies for psychiatric patients and staff.