title: "But it might be a heart attack": intolerance of uncertainty and panic disorder symptoms.
abstract: Panic disorder models describe interactions between feared anxiety-related physical sensations (i.e., anxiety sensitivity; AS) and catastrophic interpretations therein. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has been implicated as necessary for catastrophic interpretations in community samples. The current study examined relationships between IU, AS, and panic disorder symptoms in a clinical sample. Participants had a principal diagnosis of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia (n=132; 66% women). IU was expected to account for significant variance in panic symptoms controlling for AS. AS was expected to mediate the relationship between IU and panic symptoms, whereas IU was expected to moderate the relationship between AS and panic symptoms. Hierarchical linear regressions indicated that IU accounted for significant unique variance in panic symptoms relative to AS, with comparable part correlations. Mediation and moderation models were also tested and suggested direct and indirect effects of IU on panic symptoms through AS; however, an interaction effect was not supported. The current cross-sectional evidence supports a role for IU in panic symptoms, independent of AS.
authors.affiliation: University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Electronic address: Nick.Carleton@uregina.ca.
authors.forename: R Nicholas
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Carleton
authors.affiliation: University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duranceau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Boelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University and Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Randi E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Canada.
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Antony
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D035501:Uncertainty
keywords: Anxiety sensitivity; Intolerance of uncertainty; Panic; Panic disorder