Whether smoking cessation increases the risk of suicide during the initial period of tobacco withdrawal symptoms is unclear. In reports of clinical depression post-cessation, (Ayers & Tobias 2001; Hughes 2006) two of the case reports reported suicidal ideation during a post-cessation depressive episode (Bock et al. 1996; Stage et al. 1996). Only one study quantified suicidal ideation early after smoking cessation. In this study, among the 304 women who tried to stop smoking, 21 (7%) reported suicidal ideation during the 6 mo post-cessation (Tsoh et al. 2000). This study did not have a control group. Although cross-study comparisons are risky, the rate of suicidal ideation in this study is substantially elevated rate compared to the above-cited epidemiological studies of smokers not trying to quit.
