Laboratory test of a novel structural model of anxiety sensitivity and panic vulnerability.
The current study evaluated a novel latent structural model of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in relation to panic vulnerability among a sample of young adults (N=216). AS was measured using the 16-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, & McNally, 1986), and panic vulnerability was indexed by panic attack responding to a single administration of a 4-minute, 10% CO(2) challenge. As predicted, vulnerability for panic attack responding to biological challenge was associated with dichotomous individual differences between taxonic AS classes and continuous within-taxon class individual differences in AS physical concerns. Findings supported the AS taxonic-dimensional hypothesis of AS latent structure and panic vulnerability. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and clinical implications.
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel. abernstein@psy.haifa.ac.il
Amit
A
Bernstein
Michael J
MJ
Zvolensky
Michael J
MJ
Zvolensky
Norman B
NB
Schmidt
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010200:Panic; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult