Posttraumatic Stress and Emotion Dysregulation: Relationships with Smoking to Reduce Negative Affect and Barriers to Smoking Cessation

Many cigarette smokers have experienced a traumatic event, and elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are associated with increased smoking levels. Previous research has found that elevated PTSS are associated with smoking to cope with negative affect, and it has been posited that perceptions of being unable to cope with the consequences of smoking cessation interfere with smoking cessation in this population. However, the mechanism of the relationship between PTSS and these smoking maintenance factors (i.e., smoking to reduce negative affect and barriers to cessation) has not been established.

Source: Comprehensive Psychiatry - May 27, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nicole A. Short, Mary E. Oglesby, Amanda M. Raines, Michael J. Zvolensky, Norman B. Schmidt Source Type: research