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Smoking Away Schizophrenia?

Ananya Sood


Remedial for Quiz 7/ Overall Grade


In this article by Lisa Conti, the author explores and understands the relationship between Nicotine and Schizophrenia. According to her, drugs like nicotine show the hope of alleviating cognitive impairment caused by the onset of schizophrenia. To give a background of the disorder, some of the major symptoms of Schizophrenia include delusion, hallucination, and cognitive impairment. Even though symptoms vary from patient to patient, there are other common symptoms, such as social isolation, thought disorder, anger, paranoia etc. 
The Scientific American author observed that about 85% patients with diagnosed schizophrenia and symptoms of schizophrenia resort of smoking cigarettes at various stages in their disorder. According to these patients, smoking cigarettes helps reduce cognitive impairment. But is that really possible? 
Scientists over time have observed therapeutic effects of nicotine on a diseased brain but have found no evidence suggesting any long-term positive effects fo the chemical. Conti states that nicotine binds to receptors in the brain which eventually get desensitized over time. In this situation, the positive effects of nicotine last for a very short period of time and inherently cause the person to smoke more often. This practice might not relieve symptoms of schizophrenia but does ensure a heavy nicotine addiction. 
Schizophrenia requires lifelong treatment, even when symptoms have subsided. Treatment with medications and psychosocial therapy can help manage the condition. But in some severe cases, hospitalization is also recommended. Most often, treatment for Schizophrenia involves antipsychotic medication which is thought to control symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitter dopamine.
The article explored the possibility of chemical compounds like nicotine that have the capacity to bind to brain neuroreceptors but at a much weaker strength than nicotine does. 
This would help alleviate symptoms of cognitive impairment but also reduce the risk of a heavy addiction. Schizophrenia alters chemical communication to the brain, making it difficult for the brain to isolate a singular process and provide continuous attention to it. Nicotine modifies the process of signaling, and hopefully the possible new chemical with help progress and make the lives of schizophrenic patients easier. 



 Article - 

 Conti, Lisa. “Smoking Away Schizophrenia?” Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2007,



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