466. ASSESSING AND MANAGING CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENTS: CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract Background Smoking remains a highly prevalent condition among psychiatric populations and is associated with increased morbidity and poorer clinical outcomes. Although smoking has been associated with specific diagnoses and sociodemographic variables, this association is less well-defined within the inpatient psychiatric setting. Aims & Objectives This study aimed to (I) assess the prevalence of smoking among adult psychiatric inpatients; (II) examine the relationship between smoking and specific psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders); (III) investigate the association between smoking status and sociodemographic factors, lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations, and comorbid substance use. Method A total of 288 adult psychiatric inpatients (145 females and 143 males) with a mean age of 39.5 years (SD = 14.6) were enrolled in the Psychiatric Unit of Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome. All participants provided written informed consent. Data on smoking status, psychiatric diagnoses (based on DSM-5 criteria), sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical variables were collected. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare smokers and non-smokers in terms of diagnoses, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical history. Results The majority of participants were smokers (N = 171; 62.9%), with an average of 12.6 cigarettes per day. Among the sample, 89 patients (30.9%) had schizophrenia or other psychoses, 87 (30.2%) had bipolar disorder, 64 (22.2%) had a personality disorder, 40 (13.9%) had major depressive disorder, and 2.8% had other diagnoses. Smokers were significantly younger, more likely to be single, and unemployed compared to non-smokers. Furthermore, smoking was associated with a higher frequency of bipolar disorder and personality disorder diagnoses, more lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations, and higher rates of current alcohol and substance abuse. No significant differences were observed in terms of sex or hospitalization for suicide attempts. Discussion & Conclusions The current study indicates that smoking is a very high yet highly significant factor among inpatients with various psychiatric diagnoses, including bipolar and personality disorders. The association of smoking with younger age, unemployment, and comorbidity of substance use gives reasons to believe that smoking may act as an indicator of greater clinical severity within psychiatric populations. Such findings draw attention to the importance of incorporating smoking cessation management within clinical psychiatric interventions for the comprehensive betterment of this vulnerable population.