Smoking tobacco might increase risk of schizophrenia, say researchers

Analysis of studies on smoking tobacco and psychosis, of which schizophrenia is most common type, suggests smoking may be causal factor in itself

Smoking cigarettes might increase people's risk of psychosis, say researchers who believe tobacco as well as cannabis could play a part in causing schizophrenia.

It has long been recognised that people suffering from psychosis tend to smoke more than most of the population, but it has generally been assumed they are self-medicating. "Having psychosis is a very distressing thing - hearing voices, having delusions," said Dr James MacCabe from King's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, one of the authors of a new study.