Effects of smoking ban in a general hospital psychiatric unit.

INTRODUCTION

Many psychiatric facilities allow patients to smoke cigarettes even though this habit is especially harmful for mental patients.

METHODS

We studied the untoward effects produced by the smoking ban in 40 consecutive inpatients admitted to a psychiatric ward of a general hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 52.2 % out of 40 patients were smokers; the mean Fagerstrom score was 5.9. The most frequent diagnostic groups were: schizophrenia and delusional disorders; mood disorders; and personality disorders. There were only two untoward effects related with the smoking ban during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the smoking ban can be successfully implemented in a general hospital psychiatric unit without causing unfavorable effects.