Antecedentes: Varios estudios muestran que el consumo de cigarrillo esta asociado a la presencia de trastornos mentales comunes (trastornos depresivos y de ansiedad), cuando estos ultimos se investigan con escalas como el Cuestionario General de Salud (GHQ-12). En Bucaramanga, Colombia, no se observa asociacion entre consumo de cigarrillo y trastorno depresivo mayor diagnosticado con una entrevista estructurada. No obstante, la asociacion entre consumo de cigarrillo y trastornos mentales comunes no se ha investigado en una muestra probabilistica de adultos de la poblacion general. Objetivo: Determinar la asociacion entre trastornos mentales comunes y consumo diario de cigarrillo en adultos de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Metodo: Se diseno un estudio poblacional transversal para estudiar una muestra probabilistica de personas entre 18 y 65 anos. Los trastornos mentales comunes durante el ultimo mes se investigaron con el GHQ-12. Se consideraron fumadores a quienes informaron consumo diario de cigarrillo durante el ultimo mes. Mediante regresion logistica se controlaron variables de confusion. Resultados: Participaron 2.496 personas con edad promedio de 38,0 anos (DE=13,5), 69,7 % mujeres y escolaridad promedio de 9,2 anos (DE = 4,1). La prevalencia de trastornos mentales comunes fue 13,8 % (IC 95 % 12,4-15,2); y de consumo diario de cigarrillo, 10,0 % (IC 95 % 8,8-11,2). Los trastornos mentales comunes se relacionaron con el consumo diario de cigarrillo luego de controlar por edad, sexo, escolaridad, estado marital, consumo de cafe y consumo abusivo de alcohol (OR = 2,4; IC 95 % 1,7-3,5). Conclusiones: Los trastornos mentales comunes estan relacionados con consumo diario de cigarrillo. El fumar debe investigarse en personas con trastornos mentales comunes, y viceversa. SUMMARY Several studies report the association between daily cigarette smoking and common mental disorders (anxiety and depressive disorders), when diagnosis is done using scales as General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). In Bucaramanga, Colombia, there is not relationship between smoking and mayor depressive disorder diagnosed by clinical interview. However, the association between daily cigarette smoking and common mental disorders has not been studied yet in a probabilistic sample of adults from the general population. Objective: To establish the association between common mental disorders and daily cigarette smoking among adults living at Bucaramanga, Colombia. Method: A cross-sectional population study was designed in order to evaluate a probabilistic sample of 18- and 65-years old sample. The GHQ-12was used to identify common mental disorders. Smoker denomination was given to persons who smoke everyday within the last-month. Results: A total of 2,496 adults participated in this research. The mean age was 34.5 years (SD=12.5), 69.7 % were females, and the mean scholarship was 9.2 years (SD=4.1). The prevalence of common mental disorders was 13.8 % (95%CI 12.4-15.2), and the daily cigarette smoking was 10.0 % (95%CI 8.8-11.2). Common mental disorders were associated with the daily cigarette smoking, after controlling age, sex, scholarship, marital status, coffee drinking and abusive alcohol consumption (OR=2.4; 95% CI 1.7-3.5). Conclusions: Mental common disorders are related to daily cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking should be investigated in people with common mental disorders, and viceversa.