Anxiety Sensitivity, Body Vigilance, Interoceptive Acuity, and Cardiovascular Reactivity in the Genesis of Panic
Abstract
Cognitive conceptualizations of panic require both the experience of arousal symptoms and their catastrophic interpretation. The tendency to interpret arousal symptoms as threatening is known as anxiety sensitivity (AS), but it is unclear if increased vigilance, greater physiological reactivity, or enhanced perception are responsible for reported physiological symptoms. Each of these mechanisms has been empirically supported in clinical, but not nonclinical, populations. The current investigation examined the ability of AS, body vigilance, cardiovascular reactivity, and interoceptive acuity to predict fearful responding to a 35% CO2 inhalation in a nonclinical population. A main effect was found for AS (R2 = .13;p <.01). Two interaction effects were found (AS x Heart Rate, AR2 = .05,p <.05; AS x Diastolic Blood Pressure, AR2 = .05, p <.05). Results support cognitive theories of panic and suggest physiological reactivity combined with AS elicit more fearful responses than either alone.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA423616
Entities
People
- Julie M. Storey
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences