Relationship between PTSD symptomatology and nicotine dependence severity in crime victims.
Smoking rates are higher and cessation rates are lower among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population, thus understanding the relationship between PTSD and nicotine dependence is important. In a sample of 213 participants with a crime-related trauma (109 with PTSD), the relationship between PTSD status, smoking status (smoker vs. non-smoker), substance abuse diagnosis (SUD), PTSD symptoms, and sex was assessed. SUD diagnosis was significantly related to smoking status, but PTSD symptomatology and sex were not. Among smokers (n=117), increased nicotine dependence severity was associated with being male and with increased level of PTSD avoidance symptoms. Correlations indicated that PTSD avoidance and hyperarousal symptom clusters and total PTSD symptom scores were significantly related to nicotine dependence severity in males, while PTSD symptomatology in general did not correlate with dependence severity for females. The results suggest that level of PTSD symptomatology, particularly avoidance symptoms, may be important targets for smoking cessation treatment among male smokers who have experienced a traumatic event.
Baschnagel
Joseph S
JS
The University at Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 2500 North State St. Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Electronic address: jbaschnagel@psychiatry.umsmed.edu.
Coffey
Scott F
SF
The University at Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 2500 North State St. Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Electronic address: scoffey@psychiatry.umsmed.edu.
Schumacher
Julie A
JA
The University at Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 2500 North State St. Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Electronic address: jschumacher@psychiatry.umsmed.edu.
Drobes
David J
DJ
University of South Florida, H. Lee Cancer Center and Research Institute, 4115 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33617, USA. Electronic address: david.drobes@moffitt.org.
Saladin
Michael E
ME
Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Suite 17, PO Box 250700, 77 President St., Charleston, SC 29425 USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, USA. Electronic address: saladinm@musc.edu.
D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*