Relations Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Panic Symptoms in Nonreferred Children and Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 194425
• Journal: Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry Volume: 32 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2001 Pages: 117-136
• Author(s): John E. Calamari; Lisa R. Hale; Susan K. Heffelfinger; Amy S. Janeck; Jason J. Lau; Mark A. Weerts; Patricia A. Taglione; Richard L. Schisler
• Date Published: September 2001
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Portions of this paper were presented at the 33rd annual convention of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, November 1999, Toronto, Canada.

Annotation

The studies reported in this article assessed relationships between anxiety sensitivity (AS), the fear of anxiety-related sensations, and panic symptoms in nonreferred children and adolescents.

Abstract

In Study 1 (n=113, mean age, 13.98), scores on the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) predicted the experience of uncued panic attacks after controlling for general anxiety and depression, although the total variance accounted for was small. In Study 2 (N=52; mean age, 9.48), the Panic/Agoraphobia subscale of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale was used as the criterion variable. The CASI score again predicted panic symptoms after controlling for trait anxiety and depression. The results of these studies and prior investigations suggest that a relationship exists between panic symptoms and AS as measured with the CASI in children and adolescents. CASI scores predicted unique variance in measures of panic attacks and panic disorder-related experiences. If further study establishes the importance of AS as a risk factor for child and adolescent panic, interventions designed to reduce AS might be structured to prevent the development of panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Suggestions are offered for future research in this area. 5 tables and 63 references