German researchers report that smokers are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than nonsmokers, AFP reported Jan. 8.

Researchers interviewed a group of more the 3,000 people ages 14-24 in Munich about their smoking habits and psychological risk factors, following up four years later. Among nonsmokers, the authors found, about 15 percent reported having suicidal thoughts over an extended period, while the rate was about 20 percent for occasional smokers and 30 percent among addicted smokers.

Further, 0.6 percent of nonsmokers actually attempted suicide, compared to 1.6 percent of occasional smokers and 6.4 percent of smokers. No suicides occurred during the study period, however.

"Campaigns for reducing smoking should also point to the elevated risk of suicidality for occasional and regular smokers," concluded researchers led by Thomas Bronisch of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich.

The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.