Lower Levels Of Anxiety Sensitivity Research Articles

Anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity in relation to cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for smoking cessation and quit problems among adult Latinx smokers

Cigarette smoking is associated with adverse physical and mental health among Latinx adults in the United States. The present investigation sought to explore the main and interactive effects of anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity in relation to cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for smoking cessation, and severity of problems experienced when quitting among adult Latinx smokers. Participants included 338 Latinx adult daily cigarette smokers (M age = 35.53 years; SD = 8.65; age range 18–61; 37.3% female). Results indicated that anxiety symptoms were associated with greater cigarette dependence, severity of problems when quitting, and perceived barriers for smoking cessation (effect size range: 2%−3% of variance), whereas anxiety sensitivity was related to severity of problems when quitting and perceived barriers for smoking cessation (effect size range: 2%−3% of variance). There was also a statistically significant interaction between anxiety sensitivity and anxiety symptoms for cigarette dependence; anxiety was related to cigarette dependence for Latinx smokers with higher levels of anxiety sensitivity, but not for those with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity. Overall, the present findings indicate that anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity are relevant factors for better understanding cigarette dependence, problems experienced when trying to quit, and perceptions of barriers to quitting among adult Latinx smokers.

The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity and Expectancy Manipulation on Panic-Like Response to the 35% CO2 Challenge in Healthy Subjects

Background: The 35% CO₂ challenge is a well-established method triggering panic attacks under laboratory-controlled conditions. There is an ongoing debate whether single or the joined effects of the instructional set and anxiety sensitivity (AS) can alter the outcome of the challenge. Objectives: The present study investigated the effects of instruction manipulation and AS on panic-like response to the 35% CO₂ challenge. Methods: Eighty healthy subjects, with high or low levels of AS, were randomized into 4 groups based on standard/manipulated instructional sets as well as 35% CO₂ mixture/room air inhalation. Subjects filled in the Visual Analogue Scale of Anxiety (VAAS), the Visual Analogue Scale of Fear (VAS-F), the VAS of Discomfort (VAS-D), and the Panic Symptom List (PSL). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at pre- and posttest. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed greater psychological responses at VAAS, VAS-F, VAS-D, and PSL and higher systolic blood pressure under 35% CO₂ challenge if compared to room air inhalation while instructional set and AS did not influence the response. Conclusions: The present study confirms that neither instructional test nor AS alter the outcome of the 35% CO₂ challenge.

Evaluating the role of mindfulness in terms of asthma-related outcomes and depression and anxiety symptoms among individuals with asthma

ABSTRACTThe aim of the current study was to examine the unique role of mindfulness skills in terms of: (1) asthma-related outcomes (i.e., asthma control, asthma quality of life); (2) depression symptoms; and (3) anxiety symptomatology (i.e., anxiety sensitivity, panic symptoms, global anxiety) among non-smoking adults with current asthma. Participants were 61 (61.9% female; Mage = 34.72 years, SD = 13.58, range = 18–65) non-smoking adults with current asthma who completed a battery of self-report measures. Results indicated that, after controlling for the effects of race and age, greater ability to describe present moment experiences was significantly associated with better asthma-related quality of life and lower levels of anxiety symptoms. Though mindfulness skills together were associated with lower levels of panic symptoms, there were no significant individual associations between specific skills and panic symptoms. Greater nonjudgment of present moment experiences was associated with lower levels of anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. Greater nonreactivity was significantly associated with lower levels of depression symptoms and anxiety sensitivity. Lastly, a greater ability to observe present moment experiences was associated with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity. Mindfulness was not significantly associated with asthma control. These findings suggest that it may be useful to target the mindfulness skills of describing, nonjudgment, and nonreactivity among individuals with asthma, particularly those with elevated levels of anxiety and depression, in order to improve psychological and asthma-related outcomes.

Personality dimensions and substance use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities

AimsThe aim of this study was to examine the role of the personality dimensions anxiety sensitivity, negative thinking, impulsivity and sensation seeking (as assessed by the revised version of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale; SURPS) in substance use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID). MethodWe tested the relationship between level of ID and SURPS personality dimensions and the relationship between SURPS personality dimensions and severity of alcohol and drug use. Participants were 118 persons (mean age 20.5 years) with a mean IQ of 71.1 admitted to care facilities for persons with MBID and severe behavioral problems. ResultsWe found no significant relationship between level of ID and the four personality dimensions. In addition, findings showed that individuals with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity, higher levels of negative thinking, impulsivity and sensation seeking showed more severe alcohol use. Individuals with higher levels of negative thinking and sensation seeking had more severe drug use. Conclusions and implicationsThe SURPS personality dimensions identify persons at increased risk for substance use disorders and might be useful in developing selective substance use interventions for individuals with MBID.

The Long Term Role of Anxiety Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance on Pain Intensity, Mood, and Disability among Individuals in a Specialist Pain Clinic.

Background. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) and experiential avoidance (EA) have been shown to have an interactive effect on the response an individual has to chronic pain (CP) potentially resulting in long term negative outcomes. Objective. The current study attempted to (1) identify distinct CP subgroups based on their level of EA and AS and (2) compare the subgroups in terms of mood and disability. Methods. Individuals with CP were recruited from an academic pain clinic. Individuals were assessed for demographic, psychosocial, and personality measures at baseline and 1-year follow-up. A cluster analysis was conducted to identify distinct subgroups of patients based on their level of EA and AS. Differences in clinical outcomes were compared using the Repeated Measures MANOVA. Results. From a total of 229 participants, five clusters were formed. Subgroups with lower levels of AS but similar high levels of EA did not differ in outcomes. Mood impairment was significantly greater among those with high levels of EA compared to lower levels (p < 0.05). Significant improvement in disability (p < 0.05) was only seen among those with lower levels of EA and AS. Conclusions. This cluster analysis demonstrated that EA had a greater influence on mood impairment, while both EA and AS levels affected disability outcomes among individuals with CP.

Low levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychiatric symptomatology among third-generation Holocaust survivors whose fathers were war veterans

There is an ongoing debate regarding the intergenerational transmission of Holocaust trauma to the third generation (TGH). However, due to the rareness of this population, there are no studies that have examined TGH individuals whose fathers were also victims of war-related trauma and captivity. This prospective study aimed to assess the role of parents' Holocaust background, fathers' posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and adult offspring's anxiety sensitivity (AS) in adult offspring's PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology. A sample of 123 Israeli father-child dyads (42 TGH and 71 non-TGH), that included 80 former prisoners of war (ex-POWs) dyads and a comparison group of 44 veteran dyads, completed AS, PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology self-report measures. Fathers were assessed 17 years following the Yom Kippur War (T1: 2008) while offspring took part in T2 (2013–2014). Surprisingly, results show that TGH participants reported lower levels of PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology than non-TGH participants, regardless of their fathers' captivity status. Interestingly, a moderated mediation analysis indicated that offspring's AS mediated the association between Holocaust background and participants' PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology, only among ex-POWs' offspring. This study provides evidence for relatively lower levels of PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology among TGH individuals whose fathers were war veterans. Ex-POWs' adult offspring who are grandchildren of Holocaust survivors reported lower levels of AS that was related to lower levels of PTSS and psychiatric symptomatology.

Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation on Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) and emotion regulation (ER) difficulty have been identified as risk factors for anxiety symptoms. Few studies have examined the unique relations between these risk factors and anxiety and even less have examined whether AS and ER difficulty interact in their relations with anxiety. The current study used latent variable modeling to examine the unique and interactive effects of AS and ER difficulty on worry, panic, and social anxiety symptoms in a sample of 526 individuals (Mage = 34.87 years, SD = 12.41). It was hypothesized that AS and ER difficulty would be uniquely associated with all anxiety symptoms and that significant, negative interactions would emerge. The hypotheses of the current study were supported, except ER difficulty was only associated with panic at low levels of AS. These findings indicate that the effects of one risk factor was diminished at high levels of the other risk factor.

Direct and Interactive Effects of Distress Tolerance and Anxiety Sensitivity on Generalized Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance are both hypothesized risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unclear whether these factors synergistically influence GAD and MDD and related symptoms. Using latent variable methods, direct and interactive relations between anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance with worry and depressive symptoms and with GAD and MDD diagnoses were examined in 347 outpatients. Interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance were found for worry and GAD/MDD. The interactions generally suggested that anxiety sensitivity confers a greater risk for worry and GAD/MDD at higher levels of distress tolerance, and that distress tolerance confers a greater risk for worry and GAD/MDD at lower levels of anxiety sensitivity. Given the interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance for GAD/MDD, interventions targeting both risk factors may prove more efficacious than targeting each individually.

The role of anxiety sensitivity in the experience of menstrual-related symptoms reported via daily diary

The current study examined the interactive effects of Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) and menstrual cycle phase in the experience of menstrual-related symptoms. Participants were 55 community women who completed prospective tracking of menstrual-related symptoms across at least one full menstrual cycle using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) and completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) once in their premenstrual and follicular cycle phases. Results revealed that women with higher levels of AS reported greater menstrual-related symptoms, regardless of cycle phase, as compared to women with lower levels of AS. These findings suggest that AS may be an important psychological factor involved in the experience of psychological and somatic symptoms across the menstrual cycle. Results are consistent with previous literature documenting the role of AS in menstrual-related symptoms as well as in other physical health conditions.

Anxiety Sensitivity and Sleep Quality

A cardinal feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is decreased sleep quality. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is one factor that has shown early theoretical and empirical promise in better understanding the relation between sleep quality and PTSD outcomes. The current study is the first to test the independent and interactive effects of sleep quality and AS on PTSD symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, AS and sleep quality were found to be independent and interactive predictors of PTSD symptom severity in our sample of male military veterans seeking treatment for PTSD. Slope analyses revealed that AS was differentially related to PTSD symptom severity as a function of quality of sleep. The veterans with good sleep quality and relatively lower levels of AS had the lowest level of PTSD symptoms, whereas the veterans with poor sleep quality and low AS evidenced severity of PTSD symptoms similar to those with high AS.

Pain Catastrophizing Mediates the Relationship Between Self-Reported Strenuous Exercise Involvement and Pain Ratings: Moderating Role of Anxiety Sensitivity

To investigate the cross-sectional associations among self-reported weekly strenuous exercise bouts, anxiety sensitivity, and their interaction with pain catastrophizing and pain responses to the cold pressor task (CPT) in healthy, ethnically diverse young adults (n = 79). Exercise involvement has been shown to have hypoalgesic effects and cognitive factors may partially explain this effect. Particularly, alterations in pain catastrophizing have been found to mediate the positive pain outcomes of multidisciplinary treatments incorporating exercise. Further, recent evidence suggests that exercise involvement and anxiety sensitivity may act together, as interacting factors, to exert an effect on catastrophizing and pain outcomes; however, further research is needed to clarify the nature of this interaction. Before the CPT, participants were asked to complete the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index. After the CPT, participants completed a modified version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire. At a high level of anxiety sensitivity, controlling for depressive symptoms, CPT immersion time, and sex differences, a bias-corrected (BC), bootstrapped confidence interval revealed that pain catastrophizing significantly mediated the relationship between self-reported weekly strenuous exercise bouts and pain response (95% BC Confidence Interval = -9.558, -0.800 with 1000 resamples). At intermediate and low levels of anxiety sensitivity, no significant mediation effects were found. These findings support that, for pain catastrophizing to mediate the strenuous exercise-pain response relation, individuals must possess a high level of anxiety sensitivity.

Automatic and strategic processing of threat cues in patients with chronic pain: a modified stroop evaluation.

The goal of this study was to clarify whether patients with chronic pain selectively attend to syndrome-specific (i.e., pain-related) information and, if so, to determine whether this occurs at the conscious (i.e., strategic) or unconscious (i.e., automatic) level. This study was conducted at a tertiary care rehabilitation center. Thirty-three patients with chronic back and/or neck pain and 33 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and education participated in this study. A computerized version of a modified Stroop color-naming task, with unmasked and masked conditions, was used to assess strategic and automatic information processing of words related to sensory pain, affect pain, physical threat, social threat, and neutral themes. A repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that patients with chronic pain but not healthy volunteers had delayed color-naming latencies to both sensory and affect pain words in the unmasked condition. Color-naming latency differences were not evident for other word types in the unmasked condition or for any word types in the masked condition. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that the delayed color-naming latencies to pain words in the unmasked condition observed for the chronic pain patients were, in part, associated with high pain-specific cognitive anxiety and interference and lower levels of anxiety sensitivity. Individuals with chronic pain selectively process pain-related cues at the strategic level but not at the automatic level. Implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

The anxiety sensitivity construct: Cognitive reactions to physiological change

Anxiety sensitivity is proposed as an individual difference variable distinguishable from anxiety. Theoretically, individuals with high levels of anxiety sensitivity believe the experiences of anxiety are harmful and monitor their physiological responses by focusing attention to their internal stimuli. The current study assessed four groups of subjects: those with high and low levels of anxiety sensitivity; and those with or without recent experiences of panic attacks. Subjects completed a physiological protocol and reported their cognitions and subjective distress. Results support physiological change; however, reactions to the change did not differ significantly by ASI groupings, but were impacted by prior experiences with panic. Results are discussed in terms of support for a conditioning paradigm, with no apparent contribution from the postulated trait of anxiety sensitivity.