Smoking, vaping, and mental health: impacts on anxiety, depression, and impulsivity

Background The global tobacco epidemic is one of the most significant public health hazards in history, resulting in the deaths of over eight million individuals annually. The utilization of new tobacco products, specifically electronic cigarettes (EC), has significantly increased. Aim To assess the correlation between some negative mental health outcomes and nicotine use, and to detect differences between ECs and conventional cigarettes regarding their associations with these negative mental health outcomes. Patients and methods This observational cross-sectional study involved 240 individuals aged 18–65 years old, of both sexes. Depending on their smoking habits, they were classified into three groups: group 1 (EC users), group 2 (conventional cigarette smokers), and group 3 (nonsmokers). All participants underwent a psychiatric assessment and an assessment of socioeconomic status. Results Group 1 (EC users) and group 2 (conventional cigarette smokers) showed significantly elevated perceived stress scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and generalized anxiety disorder-7 than group 3 (nonsmokers) ( P <0.05). Conclusion The current study concluded a significant incidence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in cigarette smokers, either conventional or EC smokers. Additionally, both conventional and EC smoking are associated with substantial mental health problems, including severe stress and impulsivity.