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Anxiety sensitivity and CO 2 challenge reactivity as unique and interactive prospective predictors of anxiety pathology
Author(s) -
Schmidt Norman B.,
Zvolensky Michael J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20267
Subject(s) - anxiety sensitivity , anxiety , panic disorder , panic , psychopathology , psychology , reactivity (psychology) , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , distress , psychiatry , medicine , pathology , alternative medicine
Emerging evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (AS) and CO 2 ‐induced fear reactivity are associated with panic attacks and anxiety disorders. However, evidence regarding the unique and potentially synergistic effects of these variables is currently lacking. Our primary aims in this study were to determine whether AS and CO 2 ‐induced fear reactivity are unique and potentially interactive vulnerability factors involved in the pathogenesis of panic attacks and anxiety psychopathology. A large nonclinical sample of young adults ( N =404) was prospectively followed over approximately 2 years. AS (i.e., 16‐item Anxiety Sensitivity Index total scores) and biological challenge reactivity [i.e., fearful responding to pre– and postchallenge changes in subjective units of distress (SUDS) to a 20‐s 20% CO 2 challenge] at study entry served as the primary predictor variables. Consistent with expectation, AS and challenge reactivity correlated only moderately with one another. Challenge reactivity was uniquely associated with the development of spontaneous panic attacks, whereas AS was uniquely associated with anxiety disorder diagnoses, including panic disorder. Moreover, the combination of both risk factors predicted spontaneous panic attacks beyond the effects of either risk factor individually. These data provide novel evidence for the unique and combined effects of AS and CO 2 ‐induced fear reactivity as risk factors in the development of anxiety and its disorders. Depression and Anxiety 24:527–536, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.