Anxiety Symptomology Research Articles

The gray matter morphology associated with the electrophysiological response to errors in individuals with high trait anxiety

Enhanced error monitoring has been associated with higher levels of anxiety. This has been consistently demonstrated in its most reliable electrophysiological index, the error-related negativity (ERN), such that increased ERN is related with elevated anxiety symptomology. However, it is still unclear whether the structural properties of the brain are associated with individual differences in ERN amplitude. Moreover, the relationship between ERN and anxiety has recently been suggested to be moderated by sex, but the degree to which sex moderates the association between brain structure and ERN amplitude is unknown. The present study investigated the association between gray matter volume (GMV) and ERN amplitude in individuals with high trait anxiety (N = 98) as well as the role of sex in moderating this association. The ERN was elicited from a flanker task, whereas structural MRI images were obtained from whole brain structural T1-weighted MRI scans. The results of voxel-based morphometry analyses showed that the relationship between ERN difference scores and GMV was moderated by sex in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). This sex difference was derived from a negative correlation between ERN difference scores and dACC GMV in females and a positive correlation in males. Our findings are in accordance with the critical role of the dACC serving as a neural substrate of error monitoring. It also provides further evidence for sex-specific associations with brain structures related to error monitoring.

Supports and Interventions for Carers of a Person with Depressive or Anxiety Symptomology: A Systematic Review.

An increasing body of research attests to the capacity of evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for informal carers. A review of suitable supports and interventions for carers of a person with depressive or anxiety symptomology is timely. This systematic review explores intervention suitability evidence for this carer group. Searches for relevant primary studies were conducted in six databases across a 15-year timeframe (October 2004-October 2019). Studies were assessed and compared narratively and thematically. Qualitative themes were synthesised with quantitative studies to explore the extent to which carer preferences were embedded in interventions. The initial literature search produced 13,183 studies. Six studies-three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three mixed-method studies-were included following a double-blinded screening process, a review of reference lists and risk of bias assessment. Included studies contributed either intervention efficacy or acceptability evidence. The synthesis of qualitative themes with quantitative studies found that carer-specific needs and targeted psychoeducation were featured in interventions from all six quantitative studies. Current evidence for appropriate supports and interventions for this carer group is limited. The review uncovers a lack of interventions for carers of a person with anxiety symptomology and limited intervention suitability evidence for carers of a person with depressive symptomology. More research is needed to explore the needs and preferences of this carer group, and how best to support them.

Directional associations between cannabis use and anxiety symptoms from late adolescence through young adulthood

BackgroundTwo major theories aid in explaining the association between anxiety and cannabis use: a symptom-driven pathway (heightened anxiety precedes greater cannabis use) and a substance-induced pathway (greater use precedes heightened anxiety). Although the co-occurrence of cannabis use and anxiety symptomology is well-established, less is known about the temporal sequence of cannabis use and anxiety symptomology over the course of young adult development MethodsData are from an ongoing, longitudinal, cohort study. All prospective analyses used data from wave 8, when participants were between the ages of 17 and 20, through wave 13, when participants are between ages 21 and 24 (N = 2995). Data were set up in accelerated longitudinal design in which we estimated a series of latent difference score models between anxiety and cannabis use from 17 to 24 years old. Models were estimated for men and women, separately. ResultsFor the overall sample and men, greater cannabis use predicted greater subsequent increases in anxiety; however, greater anxiety symptoms were associated with decreasing cannabis use. For women, results were more complex. A positive association was noted between prior, trait-like levels of anxiety predicting greater change (increasing) in anxiety symptomology. However, when change is predicted by prior change we see that cannabis use decreases among women who have recently experienced an increase in anxiety ConclusionThe nuanced set of results from this study support a dynamic interplay between anxiety symptoms and cannabis use, with important sex differences observed. Overall, our results pave the way for rethinking our guiding theories to include a more robust, flexible, and dynamic model for understanding associations between substance use and mental health symptomology during a key period of development.

Long-Term Management of Generalised Anxiety Disorder with Low-Dose Continuous Infusions of Flumazenil: A Case Series

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder associated with social and occupational impairment. Recently, a theory was postulated that dysfunctional gamma aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAA) are implicated in anxiety symptomology, which could be corrected by flumazenil, an antagonist at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABAA receptor. Participants had a primary diagnosis of GAD and were treated initially with an eight-day continuous low-dose flumazenil infusion (total 32 mg at a rate of 4 mg/24 h). Some participants were re-treated with a further four- or eight-day infusion. Treatment response was measured as a 50% reduction in anxiety or stress scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Remission was measured as scores ≤3 or ≤7 on the anxiety and stress subscales of the DASS-21, respectively. Eight cases are reported. All cases met the criteria for treatment response on the anxiety and stress subscale of the DASS-21. Remission was achieved in seven participants on the anxiety subscale and in five on the stress subscale. No changes in hepatic, renal, or haematological function were likely attributed to flumazenil. Data suggest that low-dose continuous flumazenil infusion manages GAD symptoms and is safe. Although these results are promising, future randomised control trials are required to confirm these results.

Predictability modulates neural response to eye contact in ASD

BackgroundDeficits in establishing and maintaining eye-contact are early and persistent vulnerabilities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the neural bases of these deficits remain elusive. A promising hypothesis is that social features of autism may reflect difficulties in making predictions about the social world under conditions of uncertainty. However, no research in ASD has examined how predictability impacts the neural processing of eye-contact in naturalistic interpersonal interactions.MethodWe used eye tracking to facilitate an interactive social simulation wherein onscreen faces would establish eye-contact when the participant looked at them. In Experiment One, receipt of eye-contact was unpredictable; in Experiment Two, receipt of eye-contact was predictable. Neural response to eye-contact was measured via the N170 and P300 event-related potentials (ERPs). Experiment One included 23 ASD and 46 typically developing (TD) adult participants. Experiment Two included 25 ASD and 43 TD adult participants.ResultsWhen receipt of eye-contact was unpredictable, individuals with ASD showed increased N170 and increased, but non-specific, P300 responses. The magnitude of the N170 responses correlated with measures of sensory and anxiety symptomology, such that increased response to eye-contact was associated with increased symptomology. However, when receipt of eye-contact was predictable, individuals with ASD, relative to controls, exhibited slower N170s and no differences in the amplitude of N170 or P300.LimitationsOur ASD sample was composed of adults with IQ > 70 and included only four autistic women. Thus, further research is needed to evaluate how these results generalize across the spectrum of age, sex, and cognitive ability. Additionally, as analyses were exploratory, some findings failed to survive false-discovery rate adjustment.ConclusionsNeural response to eye-contact in ASD ranged from attenuated to hypersensitive depending on the predictability of the social context. These findings suggest that the vulnerabilities in eye-contact during social interactions in ASD may arise from differences in anticipation and expectation of eye-contact in addition to the perception of gaze alone.

Co-occurring Epidemic Conditions Among Southern U.S. Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in an Online eHealth Intervention.

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face disproportionately higher risks for adverse sexual health outcomes compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. This disparity can be attributable to overlapping and intersecting risk factors at the individual and structural levels and can be understood through syndemic theory. Using longitudinal data from the HealthMPowerment trial (n = 363), six conditions related to stigma syndemics were indexed as a cumulative risk score: high alcohol use, polydrug use, depression and anxiety symptomology, and experiences of racism and sexual minority stigma. Using Poisson regression, we found a positive association between baseline risk scores and sexual risk behavior (b: 0.32, SE: 0.03, p < 0.001). Using a Generalized Estimating Equation, we also found a 0.23 decrease in the within-participant risk scores at 3-month follow-up (SE: 0.10, p < 0.020). Future work examining how care and prevention trials improve health outcomes in this population is needed.

Exploring the Association Between Irrational Beliefs, Motivation Regulation and Anxiety in Ultra-Marathon Runners: A Mixed Methods Approach

Researchers are beginning to explore the antecedents to anxiety symptomology. Such antecedents to anxiety symptomology may be that of irrational beliefs and motivation regulation. It has been intimated that both irrational beliefs and motivation regulation can be risk factors for increased anxiety in athletes. Research is yet to explore the association between these two antecedents, and how and whether they interact in predicting anxiety symptomology. The present paper investigates such associations within two phases. In phase one, we identify the predictive capacity of irrational beliefs and motivation regulation on anxiety symptomology in 61 elite ultra-marathon runners. Results support intimated associations between irrational beliefs and motivation regulation, evidencing that irrational performance beliefs negatively associated with relative autonomous motivation. In addition, it was found that irrational performance beliefs positively associated with anxiety symptomology, whilst autonomous motivation negatively associated with anxiety symptomology in elite ultra-marathon runners. In phase two, we use a narrative approach to understand seven elite athletes’ stories surrounding their performance beliefs, motivation, and anxiety symptomology. Phase two supports findings in phase one, evidencing that the co-existence of both irrational performance beliefs and controlled motivation is an antecedent to anxiety symptomology and dysfunctional behaviours in ultra-marathon runners. The findings of both phase one and phase two are discussed in relation to the theoretical and practical implications for elite athletes.

Predicting Parental Mental Health During COVID-19: Economic Pressure, COVID-19 Stress, and Coping Strategies.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, understanding connections between economic pressures and mental health experiences is critical in comprehending how stressful global events can affect families. Although economic pressures and stress can negatively impact mental health, approach coping strategies may provide reductions in negative mental health experiences for parents compared to avoidant coping strategies. Despite recent work showing that stress resulting from the pandemic can have negative implications for the mental health of parents with young children, there is little known about the mental health of parents with adolescents. This study utilized a longitudinal sample of 198 parents (194 biological parents; 103 Fathers, and 91 Mothers) of adolescents and examined the mediating impact of COVID-19 stress on the relationship between economic pressure and subsequent depressive and anxious symptoms. Additionally, approach and avoidant coping strategies were examined as potential moderators between COVID-19 stress and later mental health. Results indicated that parents who experienced economic pressure reported worsening mental health across the school semester, with COVID-19 stress mediating this pathway. Further, approach coping strategies moderated the association between COVID-19 stress and later anxiety symptoms such that higher levels of coping associated with greater rates of later anxiety symptoms, while lower levels of coping associated with less anxiety symptoms later. Avoidant coping strategies also moderated these associations, such that greater use associated with greater depressive and anxious symptomology later. These findings emphasize that parents are experiencing worsening mental health following the onset of the pandemic and that there is an urgent need for increased mental health services to assist families during this time.

Effects of a lifestyle intervention on depression and anxiety among adults at risk for diabetes in India: A secondary analysis of the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program

The impact of lifestyle interventions on diabetes and mental health conditions have been documented among people with diabetes. However, the mental health benefits of lifestyle interventions designed for diabetes prevention have not been systematically investigated among people at high risk of diabetes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We examined the effects of a 12-month peer support lifestyle intervention designed for diabetes prevention on depression and anxiety symptomology in the sample population of the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to examine the effect of the intervention on depression and anxiety scores at 12 and 24 months in the total sample of 1007 adults at risk for diabetes and among those with mild-severe depressive or anxiety symptoms at baseline (n = 326 for depression; n = 203 for anxiety). Among all participants, the intervention group had a significantly higher reduction of depressive symptoms as compared to the control group at 12 months (mean diff score = −0.51; 95% CI: −0.95, −0.07; P = 0.02). This effect was not sustained at 24 months. There were no significant intervention effects for anxiety. Among those with mild-severe symptoms at baseline, the intervention group had a significantly higher reduction of depressive symptoms (mean diff score = −1.55; 95% CI -2.50, −0.6; P = 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (mean diff score = −1.64; 95% CI -2.76, −0.52; P = 0.004) at 12 months. The effect was sustained at 24 months for depression, but not anxiety. Lifestyle interventions designed for prevention of diabetes might improve depressive and anxiety symptoms in the short-term, particularly among those with mild-severe symptoms.

Trauma-Informed Yoga: Investigating an Intervention for Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences in Rural Contexts

In a state ravaged by suicide and a mental health crisis, this study sought to mitigate impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depressive and anxiety symptomology in high school students in a rural Montana community. Through a seven-week, twice weekly intervention of trauma-informed yoga, participants experienced statistically significant reductions in anxiety (GAD-7) and increases in Strengths and Difficulties (SDQ-11) overall scores and some subscales; noteworthy improvements were also present in depressive symptomatology (PHQ-A), salivary cortisol levels, and sleep duration. Importantly, participant qualitative feedback indicated significant benefits in focus, relaxation, and overall well-being. Further research is needed to imply generalizability and should include a larger, more diverse sample as well as utilization of control groups and an examination of academic and behavioral impacts at the school level.

The Longitudinal Impact of Maternal Depression and Neighborhood Social Context on Adolescent Mental Health.

PurposeMaternal depression and neighborhood characteristics are known to be associated both with each other and with adolescent mental health outcomes. These exposures are also subject to change throughout the life of a child. This study sought to identify multi-trajectories of maternal depression (MD) and self-reported neighborhood collective efficacy (NCE) over a 12-year period and determine whether these trajectories are differentially associated with adolescent mental health.MethodsData from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, a longitudinal cohort study of new parents and their children, were used. Maternal depression (MD) and self-reported NCE when the child was 3, 5, 9, and 15 years of age were the primary exposures of interest. Adolescent depression and anxiety symptomology when the child was 15 years of age were the primary outcomes. Primary analyses were conducted using multi-trajectory modeling and linear regressions.ResultsFive multi-trajectories were identified, two of which were characterized by no MD but either high or low NCE, and three of which were characterized by similarly moderate levels of NCE but either increasing, decreasing, or consistently high MD. Children of mothers with increasing or consistently high depressive symptomology and moderate NCE had significantly higher depression and anxiety scores compared to children of mothers with no depressive symptomology and high NCE.ConclusionAdolescents with consistent and proximal exposure to MD are most likely to suffer from adverse mental health and should be provided with appropriate support systems to mitigate these outcomes.

Predicting the effect of antidepressant treatment on relief from anxiety symptoms

IntroductionDepression and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent forms of mental illness, with antidepressants frequently used to treat them. Unfortunately, prescription of antidepressant medication is often inexact and relies on a long trial-and-error process.ObjectivesUsing machine Learning (ML) algorithms on readily obtainable clinical and demographic data of individuals diagnosed with depression with anxiety symptoms, we hypothesized that we will be able to derive models which will enable a more accurate treatment selection, focusing on relief from anxiety symptoms.MethodsPatients’ data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (START*D) were filtered to include only those who have considerable anxiety symptoms. We then analyzed these patients’ response patterns, focusing on their anxious symptomology. Then, feature selection algorithms were applied to select the most predictive features for anxiety relief. Finally, we trained three ML models for three antidepressants: citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, using a training set of participants, and validated them on naïve validation and test datasets. These ML models were then compiled to create a predictive algorithm.ResultsValidating the algorithm on the validation and test sets, our algorithm achieved a balanced accuracy of 64.8% (p&lt;0.001), 79.2% (p&lt;0.001) and 78.03% (p&lt;0.001) for citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, respectively.ConclusionsOur findings support applying ML to accumulating data to achieve an improvement in the treatment of mood disorders. The algorithm we developed may be used as a tool to aid in the choice of antidepressant medication, specifically for depressed patients who exhibit prominent anxiety symptoms.DisclosureDekel Taliaz is the founder and CEO of Taliaz and reports stock ownership in Taliaz. Amit Spinrad and Roni Zoller serve as data scientists in Taliaz.

Clinician Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Treatment of Adults and Youth with Anxiety.

We describe the perceptions of mental health clinicians practicing in the United States about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and treatment course of active clients with anxiety. Clinician participants reported on client symptomology at the beginning of treatment, just before (prior to March 2020), and at a mid-pandemic timepoint (December 2020/January 2021). An initial sample of 70 clinicians responded to a survey assessing their clients' overall anxiety severity, anxiety sensitivity, pathological uncertainty, family accommodation, and avoidance levels. Of these, 54 clinician responses were included in study analyses, providing detailed clinical information on 81 clients. Findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in anxiety severity in the majority of clients; overall, clinicians reported that 53% of clients had symptoms worsen due to COVID-19 and that only 16% experienced improvement of symptoms during treatment. Those who had lower levels of avoidance pre-pandemic and those who increased their frequency of treatment were more likely to experience increases in anxiety severity by the mid-pandemic timepoint. Further research is needed to understand the extended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety symptomology and treatment.

Prevalence and correlates of anxiety symptoms among Black people in Canada: A significant role for everyday racial discrimination and racial microaggressions

ObjectiveAnxiety disorders are highly prevalent worldwide but vary significantly by country and ethnoracial background. Minimal published data exist on the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety among Black people in Canada and none using validated measures. Therefore, this study sought to establish the frequency of clinically significant anxiety symptoms among a sample of Black people living in Canada as well as examine the association with two forms of racism (racial discrimination and racial microaggressions). MethodsData collected from the Black Community Mental Health project in Canada was analyzed. Participants provided (N= 845) sociodemographic information and completed measures assessing anxiety symptomology (GAD-7), everyday racial discrimination, racial microaggressions, and resilience. Prevalence of anxiety symptomatology was determined across sociodemographic variables as well as categories of everyday racial discrimination and racial microaggressions. Two regression models were conducted to examine the relationship between anxiety symptoms and the two forms of racism controlling for sociodemographic factors. ResultsOverall, nearly a third of participants endorsed clinically significant levels of anxiety symptoms, with higher rates observed among men, unemployed people, those with higher education, people who are separated, and those with no reported family history of mental health problems. Logistic regression models demonstrated that, except for those reporting the greatest frequency of racial discrimination, there is a general linear trend such that those experiencing higher levels of racial discrimination or racial microaggressions are increasingly more likely to present with anxiety symptoms when compared to those reporting low levels of discrimination or microaggressions. Psychological resilience afforded nominal protection but only against exposure to racial microaggressions. ConclusionsRates of clinically significant anxiety are higher among Black people in Canada than reported previously. Both racial discrimination and racial microaggressions predicted higher rates of anxiety symptoms. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings from the US that report similar findings.

Online administration of a pilot mindfulness-based intervention for adolescents: Feasibility, treatment perception and satisfaction.

Adolescents may be more vulnerable to COVID-19-related impacts and require long-term mental health care. Services that bolster emotion regulation, such as mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) promote positive impacts on psychosocial outcomes and have high acceptability. No studies have assessed feasibility, treatment perceptions and satisfaction of online MBIs with adolescents. 56 moderate- and high-risk adolescent (m = 14.5 years, 66.1% female, 26.8% LatinX) participants tested the feasibility, treatment perceptions and satisfaction of an 8-session online MBI focused on observing non-judgmentally, attending to positivity, and self-soothing. The study achieved acceptable feasibility with high attendance (m = 5.75) and retention rates (87.5%). The moderate- vs. high-risk group reported significantly higher ratings of treatment perceptions (t = 2.03, p < .05, d = 0.60). Significant associations were found between increased pre-test depression and anxiety symptomology and reduced intervention utility (rs = -0.34 and -0.32, ps < .05). This study demonstrated feasibility, treatment perceptions and satisfaction of an online MBI for adolescents presenting with two risk levels. Higher-risk adolescents may need a higher-touch intervention than moderate-risk, who may be more likely to find online MBIs acceptable. The impact of adjunctive MBIs for adolescents on treatment attendance and mental health outcomes over longer periods is necessary to understand patterns in effective adolescent treatment options.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03025-x.

Men’s masculinity contingency and social anxiety symptomology in higher education: The moderating role of depressive symptoms.

Men’s masculinity contingency and social anxiety symptomology in higher education: The moderating role of depressive symptoms.

Anxiety Symptoms Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Persist Over Time and Are Independent of SLE Disease Activity.

ObjectiveThe objectives of this study are to identify patterns of anxiety symptomology over time among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to assess the longitudinal relationship between SLE disease activity and anxiety symptomology.MethodsLongitudinal data from 139 patients with American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collborating Clinic (SLICC)‐classified SLE were analyzed. Anxiety symptomology was assessed using the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress: Anxiety Short Form 8a. SLE disease activity was measured using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)‐2000 (S2K) and S2K Responder Index 50 (S2K RI‐50). Group‐based trajectory modeling (GBTM) identified longitudinal trajectories of anxiety symptomology. The relationship between disease activity and anxiety over time was assessed using multilevel linear regressions.ResultsThe mean patient age was 40.2 years (standard deviation [SD], 12.7); 90.6% were female, and 56.1% were of Black race. All patients had at least three PROMIS anxiety scores over an average of 30.9 months (SD, 13.0). GBTM identified four trajectories of anxiety symptomology, labeled as the following: low (LA), average (AA), moderate (MA), and high anxiety (HA). Black patients were 2.47 (95% confidence interval: 1.19‐5.12) times as likely as White patients to be classified into the MA or HA groups compared with the LA or AA groups. On multivariable analysis, active SLE disease was not significantly associated with anxiety over time (P = 0.19).ConclusionAnxiety trajectories remained stable over time, and racial differences in anxiety severity were observed. SLE disease activity was not longitudinally associated with anxiety after controlling for depression and other factors. Further understanding of the factors that contribute to the persistence of anxiety among individuals with SLE is necessary.

Supplemental Material for Men’s Masculinity Contingency and Social Anxiety Symptomology in Higher Education: The Moderating Role of Depressive Symptoms

Supplemental Material for Men’s Masculinity Contingency and Social Anxiety Symptomology in Higher Education: The Moderating Role of Depressive Symptoms

Investigating the experience of individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and substance misuse attending a Seeking Safety group

PurposeThere is no specific recommended treatment for the co-morbid presentation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder in the United Kingdom (UK). Seeking Safety (SS), a group-based treatment that targets symptoms of both disorder, has emerging evidence in the USA but lacks evidence from UK-based samples. The purpose of this study was to explore UK service users’ experience of attending SS and evaluate its impact on mental health symptomology and substance misuse.Design/methodology/approachA mixed method approach was used to evaluate the acceptability of SS for a small sample (n = 7) of adult users of a substance misuse service in the UK. Thematic analysis was used to explore their experiences, derived from individual semi-structured interviews. The authors also calculated the number of participants who achieved reliable and/or clinically significant change in mental health symptomology and substance misuse from data routinely collected by the service.FindingsSeven overarching themes emerged: strengthening the foundations of the self, the evocation and management of emotions, safety and validation provided relationally, readiness and commitment, content and delivery, Seeking Safety is Not an Island and ending. Most participants with data available both before and after the group made reliable (three out of four) and clinically significant (two out of three) change for depression and anxiety symptomology; however, this was less evident for PTSD symptomology with two out of three making reliable change and one out of three making clinically significant change.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first study exploring the experiences of UK attendees of a SS group as an approach to treating comorbid PTSD and substance misuse.

Measuring anxiety related to COVID-19: Factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Arabic Coronavirus Anxiety Scale.

Literature reports that fear and anxiety related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may be a significant factor in promoting adherence to health-protective behaviours. This study aimed to validate an Arabic version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). Participants aged 18 to 58 years of age were recruited from a university population (students and staff) as well as via social media from 22 June to 18 July 2020 when the United Arab Emirates was under a partial government-instituted lockdown. They completed Arabic versions of the CAS and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. A confirmatory factor analysis produced a unidimensional structure and all items satisfactorily loaded onto this single factor (i.e., the physiological symptoms of fear and anxiety related to coronavirus). The Arabic CAS was internally consistent and concurrently valid. These preliminary findings suggest that the Arabic CAS is a valid and reliable instrument to employ in the assessment of dysfunctional anxiety related to coronavirus. The availability of this validated measure will enable the further conduct of a variety of mental health studies in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also holds clinical utility as a potential screening measure for those afflicted by anxiety symptomology during the pandemic.