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CX2SA > HEALTH 09.11.05 07:09l 56 Lines 2799 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Smoking doubles risk of post-
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : HEALTH@WW
Smoking doubles risk of post-traumatic stress
=============================================
Smokers are twice as likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder than non
-smokers , according to a study of twin soldiers.
It is estimated that after experiencing severe trauma, about one-third of
people go on to suffer PTSD, a mental illness characterised by anxiety,
flashbacks and panic attacks.
Nicotine dependence has been associated with PTSD before, but the exact nature
of the link has never been clear. The new study establishes smoking as a key
risk factor in pre-disposing people to PTSD.
Karestan Koenen, at the Harvard School of Public Health in Cambridge, US, and
colleagues, looked at the health records of 6744 pairs of male twins who had
served in the US military during the Vietnam era, about half of whom were
identical twins.
Sensitised pathways
-------------------
Shared genetic factors explained 63% of the overlap between PTSD and nicotine
dependence in the twins. "Some of the same genes that influence risk for PTSD
may influence risk for nicotine dependence, and vice versa," Koenen said.
But the researchers found that those with a pre-existing nicotine dependence
who were then exposed to trauma had twice the risk of developing PTSD, compared
to non-smokers who experienced trauma.
"Nicotine stimulates some of the same neurobiological pathways - the
dopaminergic pathway associated with reward and fear - implicated in stress and
addiction," Koenen told New Scientist. "Smoking may sensitise these pathways,
so a subsequent severe stressor is more likely to give someone PTSD."
Koenen does not know "whether giving up smoking makes the increased risk go
away". Nevertheless, she suggests the military conducts smoking cessation and
anti-smoking programmes and pays special attention to caring for soldiers with
a history of nicotine dependence who are deployed in combat situations.
The researchers also found that people exposed to trauma, whether or not they
developed PTSD, were more likely to take up smoking.
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