SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2022
The Intertwining of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Alcohol, Tobacco or Nicotine Use, and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Emotion Regulation in the Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use: A Systematic Review With Narrative Synthesis.Trauma, violence & abuse · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Unhealthy behaviors associated with mental health disorders: a systematic comparative review of diet quality, sedentary behavior, and cannabis and tobacco use.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and substance use behaviors among people with HIV - a mixed method analysis.PloS one · 2026Article
- Effects of COVID-19 economic impacts on alcohol use disorder symptoms are mediated by maximum and volume of alcohol intake: Data from the National Alcohol Survey's COVID Cohort.Alcohol, clinical & experimental research · 2026Article
- Longitudinal predictors of alcohol use and problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in an at-risk veteran sample.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2025Observational
- A population-based cohort to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on socioeconomic inequalities in mental health care in Italy (CoMeH): study protocol.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2025Article
- Perceived stress and pandemic-associated risk factors in high-risk alcohol consumers during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Health psychology report · 2025Article
- Trait and situation-specific intolerance of uncertainty predict affective symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of affective disorders · 2024Article
- Use of tobacco during COVID-19: A qualitative study among medically underserved individuals.PloS one · 2024Article
- Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression after the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market terrorist attack: a comparison of exposed and non-exposed police personnel.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPosttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and alcohol, tobacco, or nicotine use are frequently associated conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stressful situation globally and has worsened mental health conditions and addictions in the population. Our systematic review explores the links between PTSSs and (1) alcohol use and (2) tobacco or nicotine use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsWe searched the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for studies published between January 2020 and 16 December 2021. We included studies published in English concerning adults or adolescents. Included articles dealt simultaneously with the COVID-19 pandemic, PTSSs, and alcohol, tobacco, or nicotine use. The reports included were cross-sectional, longitudinal, or cohort studies. We categorized the reports according to the population explored. Our main outcomes are the impacts of PTSSs on (1) alcohol use and (2) tobacco and nicotine use and their relation to COVID-19-related stressors (worries, exposure, lockdown, and infection, either of self or relatives).
resultsOf the 503 reports identified, 44 were assessed for eligibility, and 16 were included in our review, encompassing 34,408 participants. The populations explored were the general population, healthcare workers, war veterans, patients with substance use disorders, and other vulnerable populations. Most studies were online surveys (14) with cross-sectional designs (11). Every study explored alcohol use, while only two assessed tobacco use. In most populations explored, a high level of PTSSs was associated with alcohol use increase. COVID-19-related stress was frequently correlated with either high PTSSs or alcohol use. In healthcare workers, PTSSs and alcohol use were not associated, while COVID-19 worries were related to both PTSSs and alcohol use. DISCUSSION: 1. PTSSs and increased alcohol use are frequently associated, while COVID-19 worries might trigger both conditions and worsen their association. Alcohol use increase may represent either an inadequate way of coping with PTSSs or a vulnerability amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to PTSSs. As most studies were cross-sectional online surveys, longitudinal prospective studies are needed to ascertain the direction of the associations between these conditions. These studies need to be sufficiently powered and control for potential bias and confounders. 2. Our review highlighted that research about PTSSs and tobacco or nicotine use is scarce.
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Registered trials
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