How does anxiety sensitivity vary across the anxiety disorders?

Abstract

According to Reiss and McNally's expectancy theory, a high level of anxiety sensitivity (“fear of anxiety”) increases the risk for anxiety disorders, and plays a particularly important role in panic disorder (PD). There has yet to be a comprehensive comparison of anxiety sensitivity across the anxiety disorders. Using a measure of anxiety sensitivity known as the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), we assessed 313 patients, representing each of the six DSM-III-R anxiety disorders. ASI scores associated with each anxiety disorder were greater than those of normal controls, with the exception of simple phobia. The latter was in the normal range. The ASI scores associated with PD were significantly higher than those of the other anxiety disorders, with the exception of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There was a trend for the ASI scores associated with PD to be greater than those associated with PTSD. Analysis of the ASI item responses revealed that PD patients scored significantly higher than PTSD patients on items more central to the concept of anxiety sensitivity, as determined by principal components analysis. The pattern of results did not change when trait anxiety was used as a covariate. The implications for the expectancy theory are considered, and directions for further investigation are outlined.