Examination of differential anxiety sensitivities in panic disorder: A test of anxiety sensitivity subdomains predicting fearful responding to a 35% CO2 challenge

Cognitive conceptualizations of panic disorder suggest that panic is produc ed and maintained by threatening beliefs associated with autonomic arousal. The present study tested the discriminant validity of the anxiety sensitiv ity model of panic by assessing the differential predictions of particular anxiety sensitivity domains. A factor analysis of the Body Sensations Quest ionnaire indicated four nested anxiety sensitivity factors assessing fears of cardiopulmonary, dissociation, numbness, and gastrointestinal sensations . The symptoms assessed by each factor possess varying levels of correspond ence to the sensations typically produced during a 35% CO2 inhalation (i.e. , Cardiopulmonary Fears/High Correspondence, Dissociation Fears/Moderate Co rrespondence, Numbness Fears/Moderate Correspondence, Gastrointestinal Fear s/Low Correspondence). It was hypothesized that anxiety sensitivity to the high-correspondence sensations, compared to anxiety sensitivity to moderate - and low-correspondence sensations would predict greater fearful respondin g to a 35% CO2 challenge. Fifty-six participants meeting DSM-IV criteria fo r panic disorder completed a single vital capacity 35% CO2 challenge. Consi stent with prediction, Cardiopulmonary Fears was the only index that predic ted provocation-induced anxiety and symptoms. These findings suggest that s pecific anxiety sensitivities can provide a more powerful explanatory model for predicting emotional responding in panic disorder.