Relationship between nicotine dependence and the endophenotype‐related trait of cognitive function but not acoustic startle reponses in Japanese patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Nicotine dependence might influence the level of verbal memory and executive function in schizophrenia patients. In addition, rs755203 and rs1044397 in CHRNA4 might play a role in the pathophysiology of nicotine dependence in healthy controls in the Japanese population.

Nicotine dependence in Croatian male inpatients with schizophrenia

“…We confirmed previous reports of increased FTND scores in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals [ 34 , 37 ] and increased frequency of heavy smoking compared with general population [ 3 ]. However, our findings disagree with similar prevalence of heavy smoking and FTND score in healthy persons and first-episode patients [ 10 ], and with even higher FTND scores in healthy controls [ 38 ]. The differences might be related to age, since the prevalence of smoking in patients with schizophrenia increases with age [ 5 , 39 ].…”

“…Those findings contrast previous reports of lower negative symptom severity in patients with higher levels of nicotine dependence [ 57 – 60 ] and positive correlations between FTND and PANSS negative scale, and several PANSS general items [ 61 ]. Our results are in line with other authors who observed no correlations between FTND total score [ 38 ], presence of severe nicotine dependence [ 30 ] and number of cigarettes per day [ 10 ], with any of PANSS items.…”

“…The average age in both of our groups corresponds to age-range which had the highest prevalence of smoking in European general population [ 26 ]. The discrepancy with reference [ 38 ], might arise from differences in smoking limitation. While in the latter study there was a restriction of smoking, in our hospitals there is facility where patients are allowed to smoke.…”

“…Those discrepancies might arise from disease severity, patient age, definitions of severity of nicotine dependence and comorbidity. Patients in majority of studies had the average PANSS total score lower than 60 [ 57 – 59 ], 80 [ 10 , 30 , 38 ], and 82 [ 60 ]. Our patients had more severe clinical presentation, as reflected by their PANSS total score of 114.…”