Prospective associations between intolerance of uncertainty and psychopathology

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is an important transdiagnostic risk factor across internalizing conditions. Little research has focused on establishing temporal relationships between IU and these conditions. The current study examined whether changes in IU across one year would lead to increased internalizing symptoms and elevations across diagnostic indicators. 138 students completed a diagnostic interview and battery of questionnaires at baseline and one-year follow-up. Changes in IU were significantly associated with increases in symptoms of social anxiety, worry, depression, and negative affect. Further, changes in IU were significantly related to an increased incidence of DSM-5 diagnosis and panic attacks from baseline to one-year follow-up. Changes in IU were not associated with increases in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Further, we did not find evidence for temporal precedence—baseline IU was not significantly associated with increases in internalizing symptoms or diagnostic indicators. Our results corroborate previous research suggesting that IU is an important transdiagnostic risk and extend prior work by showing that changes in IU are associated with changes in diagnostic outcomes. We did not find evidence showing temporal precedence for IU. Given the malleability of IU, these findings are clinically relevant and developing protocols aimed at reducing IU would be important.