Review of smoking cessation treatments for people with mental illness†

This article reviews the current literature regarding treatments for smoking cessation in both the general population and in those with mental health problems. The gold-standard treatment for the general population is pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion or varenicline) coupled with individual or group psychological support. This is also effective in helping people with mental illness to reduce or quit smoking, but care must be taken to avoid adverse medication interactions and to monitor antipsychotic medication in particular as cigarette consumption reduces. Jonathan Campion is a specialist psychiatry registrar on the St George’s Psychiatry Training Scheme in London (Springfield Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Road, London SW17 7DJ, UK. Email: [email protected]). Areas of interest and research include public mental health, addiction, transcultural psychiatry and mental health service provision in low income countries. Ken Checinski is a senior lecturer in addictive behaviour at St George’s, University of London, and consultant psychiatrist with the Respond NHS substance misuse service in Surrey. Research and clinical interests include smoking and mental health, dual diagnosis, post-traumatic stress and public health education. Jo Nurse is national lead for public mental health and well-being at the Department of Health, England. She works as a consultant in public health in a regional public health group. Areas of interest and experience include health promotion, sexual health, healthy prison settings, mental well-being, substance misuse, violence and abuse.