According To Several Large Reports, There Appears To Be An Association Between Cigarette Smoking And Depression

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It is not necessarily a link that you would think of, but according to several large reports there appears to be an association between cigarette smoking and depression. Notice that I say association. This does not mean that there is a direct cause.

More than 40 percent of U.S. adults who have depression are also smokers. This is important to recognize because it suggests that people need help with both if they want to quit. About seven percent of U.S. adults suffer from depression. Globally, tobacco kills about 5 million people a year and according to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's a major issue.  On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than non-smokers.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cigarette smoking is responsible for about one in five deaths annually, or about 440,000 deaths per year.