Smoking Reduction and Cessation for People with Schizophrenia - Guidelines for General Practitioners & Management Guide for General Practitioners

Many people with schizophrenia smoke and smoke heavily, resulting in significant health and lifestyle problems. Smoking reduction and cessation is complicated because smoking may alleviate some of their psychiatric symptoms and lessen the side effects of some antipsychotics.

These Guidelines, developed by SANE Australia and the University of Melbourne and endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, provide information about the nature of the problem, and ways to assist people with schizophrenia to cease or at least reduce their smoking.

The use of nicotine replacement therapy is discussed, and extreme caution advised in using bupropion (Zyban).

Click here to download the Guidelines - 2001 (PDF file 102KB)

Click here to download the Management Guide - 2001 (PDF file 94KB)

See also the Tobacco Reforms Web site from the Public Health Branch of the Department of Human Services