  For a massive scalar field with general curvature coupling parameter we
evaluate Wightman function, vacuum expectation values of the field square and
the energy-momentum tensor induced by a $Z_{2}$-symmetric brane with finite
thickness located on $(D+1)$-dimensional AdS bulk. For the general case of
static plane symmetric interior structure the expectation values in the region
outside the brane are presented as the sum of free AdS and brane induced parts.
For a conformally coupled massless scalar the brane induced part in the vacuum
energy-momentum tensor vanishes. In the limit of strong gravitational fields
the brane induced parts are exponentially suppressed for points not too close
to the brane boundary. As an application of general results a special model is
considered in which the geometry inside the brane is a slice of the Minkowski
spacetime orbifolded along the direction perpendicular to the brane. For this
model the Wightman function, vacuum expectation values of the field square and
the energy-momentum tensor inside the brane are evaluated. It is shown that for
both minimally and conformally coupled scalar fields the interior vacuum forces
acting on the brane boundaries tend to decrease the brane thickness.
