SMOKING IN VIETNAM COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER

The present study investigated smoking prevalence, smoking motives, de mographic variables and psychological symptoms in 124 help-seeking mal e Vietnam combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A high percentage of these veterans smoked (60%). Vietnam veterans wit h PTSD who smoked were more likely than those who did not smoke to rep ort higher levels of PTSD symptoms depression and trait anxiety. Incre ased depression was associated with increased automatic smoking. Smoke rs reported a high frequency of smoking in response to military memori es. Implications for smoking interventions, cessation, and relapse pre vention efforts are discussed.