title: The role of anxiety sensitivity in the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and negative outcomes in trauma-exposed adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSs) following a trauma is related to impairment, diminished quality of life, and physical health issues. Yet it is not clear why some trauma-exposed individuals experience negative outcomes while others do not. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of several influential factors related to PTS severity and negative outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty-two trauma-exposed adults were administered the following self-report measures: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian, the Trauma History Questionnaire-Short, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale 21, Sheehan Disability Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, and an abbreviated Patient Health Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTS severity was positively correlated with depressive symptom severity (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), chronicity of the most distressing trauma (r = 0.21, p = 0.017), and number of traumas (r = 0.22, p = 0.012). Main effects were found for PTS severity (β = -0.38, p < 0.01) and anxiety sensitivity (AS; β = -0.39, p < 0.01) on quality of life. No interaction was found between PTS severity and AS with any negative outcome. PTS severity mediated the relationship between AS and physical health issues (0.05; 95% CI: 0.02-0.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study helps clarify the role of various factors in the relationship between trauma and negative outcomes. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Brittany B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phares
authors.affiliation: b Department of Social Work , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salloum
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.|c Department of Pediatrics , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.|d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety sensitivity; physical health issues; posttraumatic stress; quality of life; trauma