WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) – Individuals with attention problems that are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to be smokers than those without attention problems, researchers report in the November issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
These findings may help in the design of more effective anti-smoking programs, according to Dr. Caryn Lerman of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center in Philadelphia and colleagues.
Dr. Lerman's group suggests that future studies investigate whether nicotine patches and antidepressants, which may treat both ADHD and smoking addiction, can be useful anti-smoking tools for these individuals.
"Such studies may be valuable to identify subgroups of smokers who should be targeted for additional intervention and to tailor such interventions to their individual needs," Dr. Lerman and colleagues write.
Nicotine has long been known to improve attention and ability to focus in individuals with ADHD, who are more likely to begin smoking at a younger age and are less likely to quit smoking in general. It is not known, however, whether nicotine affects individuals with less severe symptoms in the same way.
To investigate, the researchers interviewed more than 200 people at least 18 years old who were enrolled in a smoking cessation program. On average, the group smoked 20 cigarettes a day. Only four of the study volunteers had attention and hyperactivity problems severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of ADHD.
Smokers with the most severe symptoms were more likely to smoke, the researchers report. Individuals who had trouble paying attention were more likely to report using tobacco to help them focus and remain alert. They were also more likely to say that smoking helped them to deal with symptoms of depression.
Hyperactivity without attention problems was not found to significantly affect whether a person smoked. However, hyperactive individuals who also had trouble paying attention were more likely to report smoking to prevent nicotine withdrawal symptoms, a finding that suggests that nicotine may be more beneficial for improving concentration than controlling behavior.
"These results suggest that smokers with frequent symptoms of inattention may use nicotine as a stimulant drug to help manage these symptoms," the study concludes. "Future studies of the role of inattention symptoms in response to smoking treatment are warranted."
Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2001 November
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