A novel American research has established a direct link between quitting smoking and attaining happiness. According to the study, giving up on smoking helps ease anxiety, depression [a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity] , and mood swings in an individual.

A team of researchers from Brown University and the University of Southern California initiated the study, aimed to evaluate the benefits of smoking cessation. They particularly wanted to find whether mental health improved in those who quit smoking. It may be noted that past researches have shown that putting down the cigarette improves physical health, but medical health benefits have not been highlighted.

Co-author Christopher Kahler, research professor of community health at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, said, "The assumption has been that people might smoke because it has antidepressant properties and that if they quit it might unmask a depressive episode.”

“What's surprising is that at the time when you measure smokers' mood, even if they've only succeeded for a little while, they are already reporting less symptoms of depression,” Professor Kahler noted.

Study details
Around 236 men and women, who were trying to give up on smoking, were enrolled by the investigators for the study. Most of these study participants were suffering from depression and were also into moderate or heavy drinking.

The researchers gave nicotine patches to the participants and standardized testing for depression symptoms were performed on each of them, a week before they quit and then again at the end of two, eight, 16 and 28 weeks.

Findings of the study
On analysis, it was found that out of all the participants, 99 never quit, 44 ceased for two weeks and 33 remained smoke-free for the entire study period that is 28 weeks. Those who did not smoke were found to be the happiest among the entire lot.

It was found that those who quit temporarily were happy while they did not smoke, and their moods fell after the resumed smoking. Kahler said, "If they quit smoking their depressive symptoms go down and if they relapse, their mood goes back to where they were. An effective antidepressant should look like that."

“Efforts to promote smoking cessation should highlight that individuals are likely to feel more rather than less psychologically healthy when they successfully quit smoking,” the researchers highlighted. The researchers, however, maintained that while most of the study subjects were alcoholics, no major evidence was found regarding drinking alcohol and depression.