This work may not be copied, distributed, displayed, published, reproduced, transmitted, modified, posted, sold, licensed, or used for commercial purposes. By downloading this file, you are agreeing to the publisher’s Terms & Conditions.

Original Research

Cigarette Smoking and the Onset and Persistence of Panic Attacks During Mid-Adulthood in the United States: 1994-2005

Jafar Bakhshaie, MD; Michael J. Zvolensky, PhD; and Renee D. Goodwin, PhD, MPH

Published: January 27, 2016

Article Abstract

Objective: The current study examined the relationship between cigarette smoking (daily) and risk of onset and persistence of panic attacks over a 10-year period among adults in mid-adulthood in the United States and whether quitting smoking reduced the risk for panic attacks.

Method: Data were drawn from the Midlife Development in the United States Survey (N = 2,101), a nationally representative sample of adults aged 25 to 74 years at baseline (wave 1, 1994-1995) who were followed up 10 years later at wave 2 (2004-2006). Psychiatric diagnoses were based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form (CIDI-SF [based on DSM-III-R criteria]) scales. Logistic regressions were used to evaluate the associations between smoking status and the onset and persistence of panic attack after controlling for demographic characteristics and substance use problems.

Results: Daily smoking in 1994 (OR = 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1-3.3]) and persistent daily smoking in 1994 and 2005 (OR = 2.6 [95% CI, 1.4-4.8]) were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of panic attacks in 2005. Moreover, smoking abstinence significantly reduced the risk of new-onset panic attacks (OR = 0.6 [95% CI, 0.4-0.97]) and persistence of panic attacks (OR = 0.2 [95% CI, 0.1-0.5]).

Conclusions: The present data provide novel evidence that smoking is associated with an increased risk of panic attacks and that quitting smoking helps reduce such risk.

Volume: 77

Quick Links: Anxiety , Panic Disorder

Continue Reading…

Subscribe to read the entire article

$40.00

Buy this Article as a PDF