25% of the population are smokers. 98% of people with schizophrenia are smokers.!
Question:
25% of the population are smokers. 98% of people with schizophrenia are smokers. Why is this?
Why do people with schizophrenia so often smoke and sometimes so heavily?
Answers:
Because cigarettes actually help with some of the positive (or is that negative? I can't remember) symptoms of schizophrenia. Niccotine effects the dopamine receptors in the brain which in turn effect the schizophrenic symptoms. It's a form of self medicating. In fact, in the past schizophrenics were given cigarettes to help with the symptoms.