Avoidance behavior in panic disorder: the moderating influence of perceived control.
The relations among anxiety sensitivity, perceived control, and agoraphobia were examined in 239 patients diagnosed with panic disorder (PD). Most patients exhibited agoraphobia accompanying their PD (98% situational avoidance; 90% experiential avoidance; and 80% endorsed interoceptive fear and avoidance). Anxiety sensitivity and perceived emotional control were associated with agoraphobia, and perceived threat control was found to moderate the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and agoraphobia. Lower levels of perceived control were associated with a stronger relationship between anxiety sensitivity and agoraphobia. Results were consistent for self-reported and clinician-rated agoraphobia. Implications for the role of perceived control in agoraphobia development and treatment are discussed.
White
Kamila S
KS
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA. whiteks@umsl.edu
Brown
Timothy A
TA
Somers
Tamara J
TJ
Barlow
David H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires