Prevalence of tobacco dependence and withdrawal

Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Feb;144(2):205-8. doi: 10.1176/ajp.144.2.205.

Abstract

In a sample of 1,006 middle-aged male smokers drawn from the general population, 90% (N = 905) fulfilled DSM-III criteria and 36% (N = 362) fulfilled Fagerstrom's criteria for tobacco dependence. Among the 875 who had stopped smoking in the past for at least 24 hours, 21% (N = 184) fulfilled DSM-III criteria and 46% (N = 403) fulfilled the authors' own criteria for tobacco withdrawal. Concordance of results among the criteria for diagnosing tobacco dependence and withdrawal was low. These results suggest that the DSM-III criteria for tobacco dependence are overinclusive and that there is little consensus among the definitions of tobacco dependence and withdrawal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Manuals as Topic / standards
  • Middle Aged
  • Minnesota
  • Nicotine / adverse effects*
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / diagnosis
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / psychology

Substances

  • Nicotine