JAMA: 2009-02-04, Vol. 301, No. 5, Author in the Room™ Audio Interview

Interview with Steven A. Schroeder, MD, author of A 51-Year-Old Woman With Bipolar Disorder Who Wants to Quit Smoking. Summary Points: 1. Smoking is extremely common among persons with mental illness and exerts a huge toll in terms of morbidity and mortality. 2. We are now in the midst of a culture change. Formerly smoking was an integral part of the mental health culture and smoking cessation was not deemed pertinent. Now it is evolving into an important component of mental health and wellness. 3. Most smokers who have mental illness would like to quit. And many are able to do so, using the standard smoking cessation techniques used for the general population. There is still much more to know, but we know enough to encourage persons with mental illness to stop smoking and to provide them the tools to do so.