Impact of Alcohol Use, Traumatic Stress, and Cigarette Smoking on Cognitive Functioning in Veterans With Co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Overall, results provide evidence for the compounding impact of alcohol use, traumatic stress, and cigarette smoking on cognitive functioning. Impaired cognitive performance on a global level as well as on individual domains of cognitive inhibition and auditory-verbal learning were evident. Cognitive dysfunction may impede a Veteran's ability to benefit from therapeutic treatment, and these cognitive domains may represent potential targets for cognitive training efforts. Further, study results support smoking cessation initiatives and smoke-free policies enacted at Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities and medical centers.