Anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety in the prediction of fear responding to bodily sensations: A laboratory test.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The present investigation sought to examine the simultaneous effects of anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety on fear and anxious responding to a 10% carbon dioxide enriched air challenge.

METHODS:

Participants included 247 adults (53% women; mean age=21.91 years, S.D.=8.41) recruited from the community. At the laboratory, participants were administered a structured clinical interview, completed a battery of self-report measures, and underwent a 10% carbon dioxide enriched air challenge.

RESULTS:

Both anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety were significantly and uniquely predictive of post-challenge panic attacks, total post-challenge panic attack symptoms, and intensity of cognitive panic attack symptoms. Anxiety sensitivity, but not pain-related anxiety, also was predictive of post-challenge physical panic symptoms. The observed significant effects for both anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by gender, age, current level of nonspecific bodily pain, and negative affectivity. Neither anxiety sensitivity nor pain-related anxiety was significantly predictive of change in anxiety focused on bodily sensations or heart rate.

CONCLUSION:

Results suggest that anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety, although related to one another, may be independently important variables underlying fear reactivity to bodily sensations.

• Authors: Adam Gonzalez, Michael J Zvolensky, Julianna Hogan, Alison C McLeish, Kristin S Weibust
• Journal: Journal of psychosomatic research (J Psychosom Res) Vol. 70 Issue 3 Pg. 258-66 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1879-1360 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21334497 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Affect
• Anxiety (psychology)
• Fear (psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Pain (psychology)
• Pain Measurement (psychology)
• Pain Perception
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Sensation (physiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires