Women: Smoking and Depression - By: Dan Brathers

A new study has shown that women who smoke are at a higher risk of having major depressive disorders.

The 10-year long research included fewer than 1,100 women from Australia, who had their health monitored for 10 years and then had a follow-up which included them undergoing more psychiatric evaluations.

The conclusion showed that when compared to people who don't smoke, the chances for developing depression doubled for people who were considered heavy smokers (women who smoke nearly 25 cigarettes daily) and women who had depression had also higher chances of smoking than others who hadn't undergone depression.

The observers also examined their information to verify the possibility of women developing other depressive disorders through time.

Less than 700 women who didn't have a history of any disorders that were depressive were examined and less than 90 of them were smokers, over 10 (which was under 20%) developed a depressive disorder - among less than 600 non-smokers, approximately 40 (nearly 7%) developed a depressive disorder in the 10-year follow-up.

These results allowed the researchers conclude that people who don't participate in smoking have a lesser chance of developing depression. It also implies that smoking may help increase the chances of developing this problem among women.

Also according to the observers of this study, previous studies have revealed that smoking can be a potential factor for depression and there is more evidence that shows how smoking can heighten mental illness or add to it.

On the other hand, these examples were during shorter time periods. This study was particularly one of the first examples to examine the relationship between smoking and depression during a ten-year time frame.

The researchers say that as depression is a prime contributor to smoking, greater efforts are being used to promote smokers to stop.

Researchers not that smoking can actually help trigger depression by aggravating the activity of dopamine. Dopamine is associated with depression and other psychiatric illnesses.

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