title: CBT for high anxiety sensitivity: alcohol outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High anxiety sensitivity (AS) has been associated with greater alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems as well as greater sensitivity to the anxiety-reducing effects of alcohol and greater risky negative reinforcement motives for drinking. The present study reported on the alcohol-related outcomes of a telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) designed to reduce high AS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty individuals with high AS (M age=36 years; 79% women; 76% Caucasian) seeking treatment for their AS-related concerns participated in the study and were randomly assigned to an eight week telephone CBT program or a waiting list control. Participants completed measures of drinking motives and problem drinking at pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multilevel modeling showed that the treatment was successful in reducing AS. The treatment also resulted in specific reductions in drinking to cope with anxiety motives as well as physical alcohol-related problems. Mediated moderation analyses showed treatment-related changes in AS mediated changes in drinking to cope with anxiety motives. Changes in drinking to cope with anxiety motives mediated changes in physical alcohol-related problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study suggest that an AS-targeted intervention may have implications for reducing risky alcohol use cognitions and behaviors. Further research is needed in a sample of problem drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada. Electronic address: janine.olthuis@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Janine V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Olthuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Margo C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherry H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Alcohol use; Anxiety sensitivity; CBT; Drinking motives; Problem drinking