Nicotine dependence in the mental disorders, relationship with clinical indicators, and the meaning for the user1

OBJECTIVE to identify the degree of nicotine dependence among patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders hospitalized in a general hospital, correlating these indices with clinical indicators and the meaning for the user. METHOD the study was performed in the psychiatric unit of a general hospital, interviewing 270 patients with mental disorders using a questionnaire and the application of the Fagerstrom test. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data and thematic analysis of the content were performed. RESULTS among the 270 patients with mental disorders, 35.6% were smokers; of whom, 53.2% presented high or very high nicotine dependence. Of the 96 smokers, 32 (33.3%) were schizophrenic, among whom, 59.4% presented high or very high dependence. Higher levels of dependence were also found among the 59 elderly people (61.5%) and 60 subjects with somatic comorbidities (62.5%). Meanings of smoking for the subjects: helps to forget problems and face daily conflicts; alleviates side effects of the medications; self-control; distraction; part of life. CONCLUSION more intense tobacco dependence among schizophrenic patients is justified due to it helping them to cope with the difficulties of the disease. Nurses occupy a strategic position in the care.