Year: 1998 Source: Journal of Affective Disorders, v.50, no.1, (July 1998), p.1-2 SIEC No: 20010490

This editorial reviews early follow-up studies of prospectively assessed college & medical students which showed a significant association between cigarette smoking at intake & an outcome of death by suicide. Smoking has subsequently been linked to many psychiatric disorders including major depression. It is suggested that since the prediction of suicide in a single individual is poor, the addition of the presence of smoking & a measure of high aggression &/or impulsiveness might improve prognostication. (25 refs.)