Suomen Akatemia

Smoking heightens risk of psychoses

Share
Smoking at least ten cigarettes a day is linked to a higher risk of psychoses compared to non-smoking young people. The risk is also raised if the smoking starts before the age of 13. This has been shown in a study led by Academy Research Fellow, Professor Jouko Miettunen. The results were recently published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.

“This was an extensive longitudinal study based on the general population. It revealed that daily and heavy smoking are independently linked to the subsequent risk of psychoses, even when accounting for previous psychotic experiences, the use of alcohol and drugs, substance abuse and the parents’ history of psychoses. Smoking begun at an early age was a particularly significant risk factor. Based on the results, prevention of adolescent smoking is likely to have positive effects on the mental health of the population in later life,” Miettunen says.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether young people’s daily cigarette smoking is associated with a risk of psychoses, after accounting for several known, confounding factors, such as alcohol and drug use, the hereditary taint of psychoses and early symptoms of psychosis.

The research material comprised the 1986 birth cohort of Northern Finlandand it originally included more than 9,000 people. 15-16-year-old members of the cohort were invited to participate in a follow-up study carried out in 2001-2002. The final sample included 6,081 subjects who answered questions on psychotic experiences and alcohol and drug use. The follow-up continued until the subjects had reached the age of 30.

The research team has also conducted a study on cannabis use, which has been published in The British Journal of Psychiatry. The study found that teenage cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychosis. It also showed that people who had used cannabis and had psychotic experiences early in life experienced more psychoses during the period of study.

“We found that young people who had used cannabis at least five times had a heightened risk of psychoses during the follow-up, even when accounting for previous psychotic experiences, use of alcohol and drugs and the parents’ history of psychoses. Our findings are in line with current views of heavy cannabis use, particularly when begun at an early age, being linked to an increased risk of psychosis.Based on our results, it’s very important that we take notice of cannabis-using young people who report symptoms of psychosis. If possible, we should strive to prevent early-stage cannabis use,” says Antti Mustonen, Lic. Med.

The two studies were part of Jouko Miettunen’s research project “Trends and interactions of risk factors in psychotic disorders - Northern Finland birth cohort studies 1966 and 1986”, which was funded by the Academy of Finland. The published articles are part of Antti Mustonen’s forthcoming doctoral thesis on the link between alcohol and drug use and the risk of psychoses.In addition to researchers from the University of Oulu, the team included researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Queensland.

Articles:

Mustonen A, Ahokas T, Nordström T, Murray GK, Mäki P, Jääskeläinen E, Heiskala A, Mcgrath JJ, Scott JG, Miettunen J, Niemelä S. “Smokin’ Hot: Adolescent Smoking and the Risk of Psychosis”. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018 Feb 18. doi:10.1111/acps.12863.

Mustonen A, Niemelä S, Nordström T, Murray GK, Mäki P, Jääskeläinen E, Miettunen J. “Adolescent Cannabis Use, Baseline Prodromal Symptoms and the Risk of Psychosis”. Br J Psychiatry. 2018 Mar 4. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2017.52.

Inquiries

- Jouko Miettunen, jouko.miettunen@oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 716 7261

- Antti Mustonen, antti.mustonen@student.oulu.fi, tel. +358 400 437 618

Contacts

Academy of Finland Communications
Leena Vähäkylä
Communications Specialist
tel. +358 295 335 139
firstname.lastname(at)aka.fi

Documents

Links

About Suomen Akatemia

Suomen Akatemia
Suomen Akatemia
Hakaniemenranta 6, PL 131
00531 HELSINKI

029 533 5000http://www.aka.fi/fi

The Academy of Finland is a government agency within the administrative branch of the Finnish Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Our mission is to fund high-quality scientific research, provide expertise in science and science policy, and strengthen the position of science and research.In 2018, our funding for research amounts to 444 million euros.Part of our funds comes from proceeds of Finland’s national gaming company Veikkaus.In 2018, these proceeds account for 70.7 million euros of our total funding for scientific research.

Subscribe to releases from Suomen Akatemia

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Suomen Akatemia by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Suomen Akatemia

Forskningsinfrastrukturer får finansiering från Finlands Akademi1.2.2024 10:05:10 EET | Tiedote

Kommittén för forskningens infrastrukturer vid Finlands Akademi har beviljat elva projekt drygt 22 miljoner euro i finansiering för att bygga och utveckla nationella och internationella forskningsinfrastrukturer. Det här är de andra och sista delbesluten om FIRI 2023-utlysningen. Totalt beviljade Akademin över 52 miljoner euro inom utlysningen. FIRI-finansieringen stöder uppbyggnad och utveckling av högklassiga forskningsinfrastrukturer, som lägger grunden för genomslagskraftig forskning, utveckling och innovation.

Suomen Akatemialta huomattava rahoitus tutkimusinfrastruktuureille1.2.2024 10:05:10 EET | Tiedote

Suomen Akatemian tutkimusinfrastruktuurikomitea on myöntänyt rahoituksen 11 hankkeelle kansallisten ja kansainvälisten tutkimusinfrastruktuurien rakentamiseen ja kehittämiseen. Yhteensä rahoitusta myönnettiin yli 22 miljoonaa euroa. Kyseessä ovat loput FIRI 2023 -tutkimusinfrastruktuurihaun päätöksistä. Kokonaisuudessaan FIRI2023 -haussa tutkimusinfrastruktuurihankkeille myönnettiin yli 52 miljoonaa euroa. FIRI-rahoituksella tuetaan korkeatasoisten tutkimusinfrastruktuurien rakentamista ja kehittämistä vaikuttavan TKI-toiminnan perustana.

Research infrastructures receive major funding from Research Council of Finland1.2.2024 10:05:10 EET | Press release

The Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee at the Research Council of Finland has awarded eleven projects more than 22 million euros in funding to build and upgrade national and international research infrastructures. This was the second and last set of decisions on the FIRI 2023 call. The funding granted under the call totals more than 52 million euros. FIRI funding supports the establishment and upgrading of high-quality research infrastructures, which lay a solid foundation for high-impact research, development and innovation.

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye