Prospective evaluation of anxiety sensitivity in the pathogenesis of panic: replication and extension.
Increasing evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (AS) may be a premorbid risk factor for the development of anxiety pathology. The principal aim of this study was to replicate and extend a previous longitudinal study evaluating whether AS acts as a vulnerability factor in the pathogenesis of panic (N. Schmidt, D. Lerew, & R. Jackson, 1997). A large nonclinical sample of young adults (N = 1,296) was prospectively followed over a 5-week, highly stressful period of time (i.e., military basic training). Consistent with the authors' initial study, AS predicted the development of spontaneous panic attacks after controlling for a history of panic attacks and trait anxiety, and AS was found to possess symptom specificity with respect to anxiety versus depression symptoms. AS 1st-order factors differentially predicted panic attacks, with the Mental Concerns factor being the best predictor of panic in this sample.
Schmidt
N B
NB
Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1222, USA. schmidt.283@osu.edu
Lerew
D R
DR
Jackson
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires