biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)Volker MP<h4>Background</h4>Although the association between smoking and depression is well-established, the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors remain insufficiently understood. We examined the association between smoking and depression, including detailed dose-response and timing-related relationships, using baseline data from a large population-based cohort, the German National Cohort (NAKO).<h4>Methods</h4>The analysis comprised 173,890 participants (19-72 years, 50.21% female). Lifetime and current depression were assessed via self-reported physician's diagnosis, the Major Depressive Disorder module of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and the depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Smoking behavior was assessed using self-reported smokingBMC public health301https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12831396biostudies-literatureFrom cigarettes to symptoms: the association between smoking and depression in the German National Cohort (NAKO).PMC12831396Witt SHObi NVolker MPSchmidt BBohmann PSchwarz EZillich LKlinger-Konig JBaune BTMons UKlett-Tammen CJNimptsch KLeitzmann MBeule AGSchulze MBGreiser KHStreit FGrabe HJFrank JRiedel-Heller SGReinhard IPabst AHarth VSchipf SCallies CMBecher HWagner MMikolajczyk RKarch AKeil TFoo JCMeinke-Franze CKrist LBerger KTrenkwalder CBrenner HMata JPischon TErhardt-Lehmann AfalseFrom cigarettes to symptoms: the association between smoking and depression in the German National Cohort (NAKO).<h4>Background</h4>Although the association between smoking and depression is well-established, the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors remain insufficiently understood. We examined the association between smoking and depression, including detailed dose-response and timing-related relationships, using baseline data from a large population-based cohort, the German National Cohort (NAKO).<h4>Methods</h4>The analysis comprised 173,890 participants (19-72 years, 50.21% female). Lifetime and current depression were assessed via self-reported physician's diagnosis, the Major Depressive Disorder module of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and the depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Smoking behavior was assessed using self-reported smoking2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-13T05:09:37.632Z2026-06-13T03:09:15.44ZS-EPMC128313964141380210.1186/s12889-025-25959-0