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Anxiety Sensitivity

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of sensations experienced in anxiety-related situations ^[1]. In other terms, bodily sensations related to anxiety are misattributed as a negative experience causing more intense sensations. For example, a person may fear having an increased heart rate because they believe that will increase their chance of having a heart attack.

History

Anxiety sensitivity was introduced by Reiss and McNally in 1985 ^[2]. In years prior, many theorists had developed their own constructs of anxiety sensitivity. Sigmund Freud stated, “What the patient actually fears is the occurrence of such an attack under the special conditions in which he cannot escape it.” In 1987 Otto Fenichel agreed when he proposed, “Many anxiety hysterias develop out of such an experience, a fear of anxiety, and simultaneously a readiness to become frightened very easily, which may create a vicious cycle.” These concepts led Reiss and McNally to take the forefront on anxiety sensitivity research ^[3].

Method of Measurement

Today, a comprehensive test, known as the ASI-R, Anti-Sensitivity Index Revised ^[4], is used to understand the basic dimensions and hierarchic structure of anxiety sensitivity. It includes 36 questions to be answered using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 represents strong disagreement and 5 represents strong agreement. The middle of the scale signifies neither agreement nor disagreement. The ASI-R contains 6 subscales assessing the following domains:

fear of cardiovascular symptoms
fear of respiratory symptoms
fear of gastrointestinal symptoms
fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions
fear of dissociative and neurological symptoms
fear of cognitive dyscontrol

The subscales assess each of the domains of anxiety sensitivity. The hierarchy of these domains has been demonstrated using factor analysis. This hierarchy is important because it supports the idea that anxiety sensitivity can be deconstructed into simpler, independent factors that each contribute to the overall phenomenon of anxiety sensitivity. Fear of gastrointestinal symptoms and fear of dissociative and neurological symptoms failed to form distinct factors ^[4].

Potential Limitations

As of 1999, the limitations of the ASI-R questionnaire were ^[4]:

It is unknown whether or not the ASI-R scale is appropriate for comparing clinical and nonclinical populations.
Test-retest reliability of the ASI-R and its factors.

Studies

Anxiety sensitivity may be linked to anxiety disorders such as panic disorder. One study has indicated that smoking decreased anxiety in people who smoked during stressful situations ^[5]. There is still much to be learned about anxiety sensitivity as there are continuous studies revealing new, in depth and informative information.

References

^ Taylor, S. "Anxiety Sensitivity: Theoretical Perspectives and Recent Findings." Behaviour Research and Therapy 33.3 (1995): 243-58. Print.
^ Plehn, Kirsten., Rolf A. Peterson. "Measuring Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and Treatment of the Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 61-82. Print.
^ McNally, Richard J. "Theoretical Approaches to the Fear of Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and the Treatment of Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 3-13. Print.
^ ^a ^b ^c Taylor, Steven, and Brian J. Cox. "An Expanded Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence for a Hierarchic Structure in a Clinical Sample." Journal of Anxiety Disorders 12.5 (1998): 463-83. Print.
^ Evatt, Daniel P., and Jon D. Kassel. "Smoking, Arousal, and Affect: The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity." Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2009): 114-23. Print.

[Taylor_1995-1] Taylor, S. "Anxiety Sensitivity: Theoretical Perspectives and Recent Findings." Behaviour Research and Therapy 33.3 (1995): 243-58. Print.

[2] Plehn, Kirsten., Rolf A. Peterson. "Measuring Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and Treatment of the Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 61-82. Print.

[3] McNally, Richard J. "Theoretical Approaches to the Fear of Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and the Treatment of Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 3-13. Print.

[Taylor_et_al_1998-4] Taylor, Steven, and Brian J. Cox. "An Expanded Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence for a Hierarchic Structure in a Clinical Sample." Journal of Anxiety Disorders 12.5 (1998): 463-83. Print.

[5] Evatt, Daniel P., and Jon D. Kassel. "Smoking, Arousal, and Affect: The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity." Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2009): 114-23. Print.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Anxiety Sensitivity ==
-'''Anxiety sensitivity''' (AS) refers to the fear of sensations experienced in anxiety-related situations <ref name="Taylor_1995">Taylor, S. "Anxiety Sensitivity: Theoretical Perspectives and Recent Findings." Behaviour Research and Therapy 33.3 (1995): 243-58. Print.</ref>.  In other terms, bodily sensations related to anxiety are misattributed ([[misattribution of arousal]]) as a negative experience causing more intense sensations.  For example, a person may fear having an increased heart rate because they believe that will increase their chance of having a [[heart attack]].
+'''Anxiety sensitivity''' (AS) refers to the fear of sensations experienced in anxiety-related situations <ref name="Taylor_1995">Taylor, S. "Anxiety Sensitivity: Theoretical Perspectives and Recent Findings." Behaviour Research and Therapy 33.3 (1995): 243-58. Print.</ref>.  In other terms, bodily sensations related to anxiety are [[misattribution of arousal|misattributed]] as a negative experience causing more intense sensations.  For example, a person may fear having an increased heart rate because they believe that will increase their chance of having a [[heart attack]].
 == History ==
-Anxiety sensitivity was introduced by Reiss and McNally in 1985 <ref> Plehn, Kirsten., Rolf A. Peterson. "Measuring Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and Treatment of the Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 61-82. Print.</ref>.  In years prior, many theorists had developed their own constructs of anxiety sensitivity.  [[Freud]] stated, “What the patient actually fears is the occurrence of such an attack under the special conditions in which he cannot escape it.” In 1987 Otto Fenichel agreed when he proposed, “Many anxiety hysterias develop out of such an experience, a fear of anxiety, and simultaneously a readiness to become frightened very easily, which may create a vicious cycle.”  These concepts led Reiss and McNally to take the forefront on anxiety sensitivity research <ref> McNally, Richard J. "Theoretical Approaches to the Fear of Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and the Treatment of Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 3-13. Print.</ref>.
+Anxiety sensitivity was introduced by Reiss and McNally in 1985 <ref> Plehn, Kirsten., Rolf A. Peterson. "Measuring Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and Treatment of the Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 61-82. Print.</ref>.  In years prior, many theorists had developed their own constructs of anxiety sensitivity.  [[Sigmund Freud]] stated, “What the patient actually fears is the occurrence of such an attack under the special conditions in which he cannot escape it.” In 1987 Otto Fenichel agreed when he proposed, “Many anxiety hysterias develop out of such an experience, a fear of anxiety, and simultaneously a readiness to become frightened very easily, which may create a vicious cycle.”  These concepts led Reiss and McNally to take the forefront on anxiety sensitivity research <ref> McNally, Richard J. "Theoretical Approaches to the Fear of Anxiety Sensitivity." Anxiety Sensitivity: Theory, Research, and the Treatment of Fear of Anxiety. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999. 3-13. Print.</ref>.
 == Method of Measurement ==
-Today, a comprehensive test, known as the ASI-R, Anti-Sensitivity Index Revised, is used to understand the basic dimensions and hierarchic structure of anxiety sensitivity.  It includes 36 questions to be answered using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 represents strong disagreement and 5 represents strong agreement.  The middle of the scale signifies neither agreement nor disagreement.  The ASI-R contains 6 subscales assessing the following domains:
+Today, a comprehensive test, known as the ASI-R, Anti-Sensitivity Index Revised <ref name="Taylor_et_al_1998">Taylor, Steven, and Brian J. Cox. "An Expanded Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence for a Hierarchic Structure in a Clinical Sample." Journal of Anxiety Disorders 12.5 (1998): 463-83. Print.</ref>, is used to understand the basic dimensions and hierarchic structure of anxiety sensitivity.  It includes 36 questions to be answered using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 represents strong disagreement and 5 represents strong agreement.  The middle of the scale signifies neither agreement nor disagreement.  The ASI-R contains 6 subscales assessing the following domains:
 # fear of cardiovascular symptoms
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 # fear of cognitive dyscontrol
+The subscales assess each of the domains of anxiety sensitivity.  The [[hierarchy]] of these domains has been demonstrated using [[factor analysis]]. This hierarchy is important because it supports the idea that anxiety sensitivity can be deconstructed into simpler, independent factors that each contribute to the overall phenomenon of anxiety sensitivity.  Fear of gastrointestinal symptoms and fear of dissociative and neurological symptoms failed to form distinct factors <ref name="Taylor_et_al_1998" />.
-The subscales assess each of the domains of anxiety sensitivity.
-The importance of the subscales is to aid in the assessment of the test results.  More specifically, the [[hierarchy]] is important because it supports the idea that anxiety sensitivity can be deconstructed into simpler, independent factors that each contribute to the overall phenomenon of anxiety sensitivity.  This is possible because the hierarchic structure allows each of the subscales to be more defined.  They rely on a single higher order factor [[factor analysis]].  Fear of gastrointestinal symptoms and fear of dissociative and neurological symptoms failed to form distinct factors <ref name="Taylor_et_al_1998">Taylor, Steven, and Brian J. Cox. "An Expanded Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence for a Hierarchic Structure in a Clinical Sample." Journal of Anxiety Disorders 12.5 (1998): 463-83. Print.</ref>.
 == Potential Limitations ==
@@ Line 23: / Line 22: @@
 # It is unknown whether or not the ASI-R scale is appropriate for comparing clinical and nonclinical populations.
-# A further issue of concern is the test-retest reliability of the ASI-R and its factors.
+# Test-retest reliability of the ASI-R and its factors.
 == Studies ==
-AS may be linked to [[anxiety disorders]] such as [[panic disorder]].  One study has indicated that [[smoking]] decreased anxiety in people who smoked during [[stress]]ful situations <ref>Evatt, Daniel P., and Jon D. Kassel. "Smoking, Arousal, and Affect: The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity." Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2009): 114-23. Print.</ref>.  It is important to note that there is still much to be learned about anxiety sensitivity as there are continuous studies revealing new, in depth and informative information.
+Anxiety sensitivity may be linked to [[anxiety disorders]] such as [[panic disorder]].  One study has indicated that [[smoking]] decreased anxiety in people who smoked during [[Stress_(psychological)|stressful]] situations <ref>Evatt, Daniel P., and Jon D. Kassel. "Smoking, Arousal, and Affect: The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity." Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2009): 114-23. Print.</ref>.  There is still much to be learned about anxiety sensitivity as there are continuous studies revealing new, in depth and informative information.
 == References ==