@article{599c09d40b134d738c50b91d98c11008,
title = "Genetic and environmental influences on the relationship among combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and alcohol use",
abstract = "The role of genetic and environmental influences on the relationship between combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and alcohol use were examined in 4072 male-male twin pairs who served in the United States military during the Vietnam era (1965-1975). Results indicate that the relationship between combat and alcohol use and between PTSD symptom factors and alcohol use were both substantially influenced by genetic factors. Findings are most consistent with a shared vulnerability model for the etiology of the association between PTSD symptoms and alcohol use. Specific unique environmental factors were more important than genetic factors for PTSD symptoms, and both factors were equally important for alcohol use. Further support is also found for the role of the unique environment in PTSD symptoms.",
keywords = "Alcohol use, Combat, Genetic, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Twins",
author = "McLeod, \{D. Scott\} and Koenen, \{Karestan C.\} and Meyer, \{Joanne M.\} and Lyons, \{Michael J.\} and Seth Eisen and William True and Jack Goldberg",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by a grant (MH11954-01) from National Institute of Mental Health to Drs. Michael Lyons and Karestan Koenen and by a grant from the Massachusetts Area Veterans Epidemiological Research Center (MAVERIC) to Drs. Jessica Wolfe and Karestan Koenen. This research was also supported by a grant (AA10586) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to Dr. Michael Lyons, a grant (AA10339) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to Dr. William True, a grant (DA04604) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to Dr. Ming Tsuang and the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service and Cooperative Studies Program (Study \#992). We wish to acknowledge the help from the following people: Department of Veterans Affairs, Cooperative Studies Program Central Administration: Chief, John R. Feussner, MD, Former Chief, Daniel Deykin, MD, Former Administrative Officer, Janet Gold, Staff Assistant, Ping C. Huang, PhD, Program Manager, Joseph Gough, MA; Health Services Research and Development Service: Director, John Demakis, MD, Deputy Director, Shirley Meehan, MBA, PhD, Program Manager, Charles Welch III, PhD; Hines VA Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, Vietnam Era Twin Registry: Director, William G. Henderson, PhD, Registry Co-ordinator, Mary Ellen Vitek, Programmer, Kenneth Bukowski, Statistical Assistant, Rita Havlicek; Vietnam Era Twin Registry Advisory Committee: Theodore Colton, ScD, Ralph Paffenbarger, MD, Walter Nance, MD, Myrna Weissman, PhD, Roger Williams, MD. We also acknowledge Irv Gottesman, PhD, of University of Virginia and Jag Khalsa, PhD, of NIDA whose contributions helped to complete this project successfully. We thank John Simpson, PhD, and Jerry Fleming, MS for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Most important, the authors wish to acknowledge and thank the members of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry for their participation and cooperation. They willingly provided sensitive information and considerable time in responding to the survey. Without their contribution this research project would not have been possible.",
year = "2001",
doi = "10.1023/A:1011157800050",
language = "English",
volume = "14",
pages = "259--275",
journal = "Journal of Traumatic Stress",
issn = "0894-9867",
number = "2",
}