People with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of nicotine dependency and other substance use disorders (SUDs) than the general population. Research has linked smoking to more frequent and severe manic episodes, and with an overall worsening in bipolar symptoms.
Smoking has also been found to be associated with manic cycling, mixed episodes, and greater episode severity in Bipolar disorder patients (Waxmonsky et al.
55–57) Nicotine is a nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonist that causes the release of both dopamine and norepinephrine. These two neurotransmitters are implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, and are also thought to play a key role in addiction.
At first, nicotine improves mood and concentration, decreases anger and stress, relaxes muscles and reduces appetite. Regular doses of nicotine lead to changes in the brain, which then lead to nicotine withdrawal symptoms when the supply of nicotine decreases.
Bipolar Triggers and Warning Signs
Bipolar disorder features extreme shifts in mood that are unpredictable and often disruptive to daily functioning. Changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, emotions, and behaviors accompany the mood swings.
Factors such as stress, poor sleep, and even seasonal changes can play a role in triggering your bipolar symptoms. Learn how you can reduce your risk of bipolar episodes and better manage your condition.
Clinical trials suggest that nicotine can reduce appetite and weight gain, increase brain receptors, and decrease the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Nicotine has also proven beneficial for health conditions including ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia.
It is postulated that nicotine compensates a hypodopaminergic state in prefrontal brain regions, thought to underlie the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia.
Nicotine has calming effects on stress-induced mood changes in females, but enhances aggressive mood in males. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001 Dec;4(4):371-6. doi: 10.1017/S1461145701002577.
The chemicals responsible for controlling the brain's functions are called neurotransmitters, and include noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. There's some evidence that if there's an imbalance in the levels of 1 or more neurotransmitters, a person may develop some symptoms of bipolar disorder.
However, even when I am not hypomanic, I still smoke cigarettes. In my situation, having bipolar 2 disorder, smoking cigarettes allows me to gather my thoughts and center myself. It's a habit that many of us living with bipolar have taken on as a way to cope with stress, depression, and overwhelming thoughts.
In Western studies, the prevalence of smoking in other psychiatric disorders seems to be lower than in schizophrenia, e.g. 31.2–66% in bipolar disorder11,12,13,14, and 34–60% in depression12, 13, 15, but these rates are still much higher than in the general population.
Research shows bipolar disorder may damage the brain over time. Experts think it's because you slowly lose amino acids. They help build the proteins that make up the insulation around your neurons.
And people with bipolar disorder may be more likely to use cannabis in the first place. Still, there's evidence that CBD may help with stress, anxiety, and depression. CBD's potential ability to help with depression may benefit people with bipolar who are experiencing a depressive episode.
Smoking is believed to be more prevalent among people with depression and schizophrenia because nicotine may temporarily lessen the symptoms of these illnesses, such as poor concentration, low mood, and stress.
Daily tobacco use is associated with increased risk of psychosis and an earlier age at onset of psychotic illness. The possibility of a causal link between tobacco use and psychosis merits further examination.
They found that inactivation of beta2 subunit, a specific sub-class of nicotinic receptors that bind nicotine, appears to reduce anxiety. This is different from the mechanism that regulates nicotine reward and likely occurs in a separate brain area.
Nicotine may increase attention and reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and, thus, may regulate behavior in individuals with ADHD. Alleviating the symptoms of ADHD and increasing cardiovascular activity through smoking may mimic the effects of stimulant medications and can be a form of self-medication.
In fact, it suggests a daily limit on nicotine intake ranging from no more than one milligram per kilogram (or . 22 mg/lb. for a 160-pound adult) per day to a maximum of . 5 mg/kg (1.1 mg/lb.)
Research has shown that nicotine can speed up reaction time, improve working memory, and enhance focus and attention. A major confounding factor in these studies, though, is whether the people who are tested are smokers or non-smokers.
Long-term studies show that both major depression (unipolar and bipolar) and mania are most common in early adulthood and less common in older age. The prevalence of mania tends to decrease with age even more than depression. Mood symptoms in general decline with age, and the balance does shift more to depression.
Childhood trauma
Some experts believe that experiencing a lot of emotional distress as a child can cause bipolar disorder to develop. This could be because childhood trauma and distress can have a big effect on your ability to manage your emotions. This can include experiences like: Neglect.
Sleep, negative life events, drug and alcohol use, seasonal changes, the reproductive cycle, as well as goal attainment and positive events can all have a deleterious impact on your stability, triggering a destructive cycle of mood switching.