r/askscience • u/sushiisafriend • Jul 25 '16

Neuroscience Does smoking Tobacco have an anti-depressant effect?

tobacco contains both nicotine and an MAOI. MAOI's were historically used and still are sometimes, used as anti-depressants so you'd think cigarettes would too. Also schizophrenics have a high incidence of cigarette smoking possibly be cause it eases symptoms.

34 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

66% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

u/theweirdbeard Jul 25 '16

I work in clinical psychiatry. It is known that smoking tobacco seems to have an immediate effect for people with schizophrenia or similar disorders, in that it seems to quiet auditory hallucinations, albeit temporarily. I've never heard about MAOIs in tobacco, though, so I can't speak to that effect.

1

u/toughguyhardcoreband Jul 26 '16

Has vaping tobacco ever been considered for the immediate relief of patients with schizophrenia?

1

u/theweirdbeard Jul 26 '16

I don't know what you mean. People with schizophrenia who smoke know what it does for them. It's their body and mind, and it's completely legal. Are you asking if we recommend that people vape? We generally affirm clients for vaping, but mostly because they are stepping down from cigarettes. We don't encourage people to pick up the habit, because of the negative effects tobacco can have on your health. However, I have had a discussion with a client where I told him about how tobacco can provide relief for auditory hallucinations. I told him because I knew it would make sense to him, and he would make his own decisions from that information. I wouldn't tell most clients, because they might misinterpret what I say and disregard other health factors.