Anxiety sensitivity: theoretical perspectives and recent findings

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Anxiety Disorders

Background:

• Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is defined as the fear of anxiety-related sensations.
• It stems from beliefs about the harmful somatic, psychological, or social consequences of these sensations.
• AS is considered a fundamental fear that can amplify other fears and contribute to panic attacks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on the construct of anxiety sensitivity (AS).
• To examine AS's position within Reiss's (1991) nomological network.
• To explore the structure and correlates of AS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on anxiety sensitivity.
• Analysis of findings concerning the unifactorial versus multifactorial nature of AS.
• Examination of the relationship between AS and other psychological constructs.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports a unifactorial model of AS, but recent findings suggest a multifactorial structure at the first-order level.
• Elevated AS is associated with a higher likelihood of panic attack history.
• AS is factorially distinct from other fundamental fears and more strongly related to agoraphobia.

Conclusions:

• AS is a significant construct in understanding anxiety and panic.
• While often viewed as unifactorial, AS may have distinct first-order factors.
• Further research is needed on the etiology of AS and its relationship to trait anxiety and basic fears.