The effects of anxiety sensitivity and history of panic on reactions to stressors in a non-clinical sample

This study attempted to determine the effects of physical and mental stress ors on a nonclinical population that varied in terms of history of panic at tacks and level of anxiety sensitivity. Groups included: (1) individuals wi th a history of panic attacks, (2) those with high scores on the anxiety se nsitivity index and no history of panic and (3) those with no panic experie nces and low anxiety sensitivity. Results indicated that participants with a history of panic and those with high anxiety sensitivity reported signifi cantly higher levels of anxiety ratings, bodily symptoms, and anxious thoug hts than low anxiety sensitivity subjects during a balloon inflation task. Groups did not differ on any of the dependent measures of stress during a m ental arithmetic task. Results indicate that anxiety sensitivity is predict ive of whether individuals are likely to panic in response to challenges th at induce uncomfortable somatic sensations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.