(New
Brunswick) – While many smokers struggle to stick
to resolutions to quit smoking, a new paper, published in
the February edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry,
shows that even those who are highly addicted to tobacco
can succeed in quitting if they receive appropriate help.
The article, written by Dr. Jill Williams, an associate
professor at the UMDNJ-Robert Woods Johnson Medical School,
and by Dr. Jonathan Foulds, director of the Tobacco Dependence
Program at the UMDNJ-School of Public Health, highlights
the case of a man with schizophrenia who smoked 30 cigarettes
per day and who had tried to quit over 20 times on his own
before succeeding with expert help from the Tobacco Dependence
Clinic at UMDNJ-School of Public Health.
“Tobacco
addiction is an important element that should be addressed
as part of recovery-based mental health treatment,”
Dr. Williams said. “Individuals with schizophrenia
smoke at a rate three times higher than the general population
and smoking adds to the stigma of having mental illness.
Studies have also shown that smoking among individuals with
schizophrenia is associated with higher levels of positive
symptoms and higher antipsychotic medication doses.”
The
article (available
here), details the background and treatment
of 41-year-old man who started smoking at age 14 and who
was first diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 19. Through
a combination of regular counseling and medications, “Mr.
P.” has been smoke-free for the past three years.
He has also reduced his dependence on medication to control
the symptoms of schizophrenia, enrolled in a college-level
program to become a psychosocial rehabilitation counselor
and has become active as a group leader in a local mental
health self-help center. His wife joined him in treatment
and as a result, she has also succeeded in quitting smoking.
“Here
at the Tobacco Dependence Program, we have a multidisciplinary
team of tobacco treatment specialists who are capable of
providing the most effective treatment for smokers,”
Dr. Foulds said. “Most of our patients have tried
to quit many times before, and are successful here with
the right combination of medical and psychological support.”
The
Tobacco Dependence Program at UMDNJ-School of Public Health
provides smoking cessation services in New Brunswick (732-235-8222)
and Newark (973-972-7431), while the Department of Psychiatry
at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School provides smoking
Cessation
services in Trenton (609-396-7707). Dr. Williams also conducts
research studies of smokers with schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder. For more information on participating in Dr. Williams’
studies, please contact 732-235-4600.
New
Jersey provides a comprehensive range of treatment services
for smokers, including free telephone counseling at NJ Quitline
(1-866-NJSTOPS); free online information and interactive
support at NJ
Quitnet and face-to-face counseling and medication
support at NJ Quitcenters.
To request
an interview with Dr. Williams or Dr. Foulds, please contact
Jerry Carey, UMDNJ News Service, at (856) 566 6171 or (973)
972 5000.
The
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences
university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's
three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate
school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related
professions, a school of nursing and its only school of
public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more
than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and
faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway,
Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University
Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University
Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services
network.
