Alcohol use, cigarette consumption and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was studied in 147 male former members of the civilian resistance against the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II.


METHODS
The subjects were interviewed at home. Measures included rating of current PTSD and a self-report measure of smoking and alcohol use.


RESULTS
The weekly alcohol consumption reported by veterans was substantially below that of the general population. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in self-reported alcohol consumption between veterans with and without current PTSD. Cigarette smoking, however, was more prevalent in those with current PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence in these veterans of a correlation between PTSD and alcohol consumption is contrary to the results of most studies on this subject. It may be related to the exclusion from organized resistance activities of people prone to the over-consumption of alcohol. It is hypothesized that, in trauma survivors, current substance use is associated with peri-traumatic patterns of psychological tension-reduction modes.
Op Den Velde
Wybrand
W
Department of Psychiatry, St Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Aarts
Petra G H
PG
Falger
Paul R J
PR
Hovens
Johan E
JE
Van Duijn
Hans
H
De Groen
Johan H M
JH
Van Duijn
Marijtje A J
MA
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology