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Nicotine has various connections to depression. Adolescent nicotine use may lead to adult depression, while nicotine may help treat adult depression by stimulating neurotransmitters. Nicotine withdrawal can also cause depression due to reduced neurotransmitter activity and psychological effects.
Evidence from scientific studies suggests that there are various connections between nicotine and depression. A group of researchers has established a possible link between adolescent nicotine use and adult depression, a phenomenon that can result from exposure of the adolescent brain not yet fully developed to the chemicals in nicotine. Paradoxically, another study suggests that, due to its ability to stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain, nicotine may be helpful in treating adult depression. Furthermore, there is a recognized link between nicotine withdrawal and depression, which is likely rooted in the physical and psychological effects of nicotine cessation.
A 2009 study in laboratory mice suggests that teenage nicotine use can lead to depression in adulthood. During this study, adolescent rats were injected with a nicotine solution over a two-week period. They have subsequently been observed to show depressed reactions when placed in stressful situations. Interestingly, the adult rats injected with the nicotine solution showed no signs of depression when placed in the same stressful situations as the injected animals during adolescence. While this phenomenon is not yet fully understood, researchers have suggested that because the adolescent brain has not yet reached maturity, it may be more susceptible to damage from the chemicals in nicotine.
On the other hand, a small 2006 study suggests that nicotine may actually be helpful in treating depression in adults. During this study, half of a group of non-smoking individuals suffering from depression wore a nicotine patch, while the other half wore a placebo patch. After eight days, individuals who had worn the nicotine patch reported that their symptoms of depression had decreased in severity. It is thought that this effect may result from nicotine’s tendency to stimulate the release of “feel-good” neurotransmitters such as serotonin in the brain. The researchers involved in this study do not advocate the use of harmful nicotine-containing tobacco products, but are optimistic that a drug that isolates the depression-relieving properties of nicotine can be developed.
Finally, there is a long-recognized link between nicotine withdrawal and depression. The depression that results from tobacco cessation is likely caused by both reduced neurotransmitter activity and the psychological effects of quitting a habit that many tobacco users associate with pleasure, comfort, and calmness. This particular link between nicotine and depression may only last as long as an individual adjusts to life without tobacco. In rare cases, however, a former nicotine user may need sustained professional support to manage depression.
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