Anxiety Sensitivity and Psychological Vulnerability.
Abstract
To date, primary research in the area of panic disorder and similar anxiety, pathology has been laboratory-based. A wealth of primary research in panic disorder in particular has been gleaned from laboratory research using biological challenge paradigms by which panic is experimentally provoked. The present work reviews the knowledge based gleaned from the biological challenge paradigm and the competing (and often agreeing) models of panic and anxiety, narrowing to a focus on Reiss' (1991) expectancy theory. Within expectancy theory, emphasis is placed upon the role of anxiety sensitivity. Expectancy theory proposes that anxiety sensitivity may serve as a premorbid risk factor for the development of anxiety pathology (Reiss, 1991). Next, this work presents a series of five reports investigating the role of anxiety sensitivity and psychological vulnerability in a number of areas. In addition, the concept of psychological vulnerability factors in general is explored, and other possible risk factors for anxiety, pathology, depression, disability, and impairment are examined. The first three reports presented here stem from a large sample of data collected at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) during Basic Cadet Training (BCT) in the summer of 1995. The remaining two studies examine the theoretical position of anxiety sensitivity in terms of pathology, specificity, and other more distal effects of elevated anxiety? sensitivity such as decreased cardiovascular fitness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 05, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363346
Entities
People
- Darin R. Lerew
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences