Difference in Anxiety Sensitivity Among Anxiety Disorder Groups.
- Author:
Jun Beom AN
1
;
Ji Hae KIM
;
Eun Ho KANG
;
Bum Hee YU
Author Information
1. Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anxiety sensitivity;
Anxiety disorder
- MeSH:
Anxiety;
Anxiety Disorders;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Humans;
Panic Disorder;
Psychometrics
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2009;48(4):240-246
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES : The present study aimed to compare anxiety sensitivity among anxiety disorder groups, and to examine the relationships between lower-order factors of anxiety sensitivity and each anxiety disorder. METHODS : Three hundred and twenty four normal control subjects and 212 patients with anxiety disorders were enrolled in this study. All subjects completed a psychometric assessment package including the Korean Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASI-R) test. Statistical analysis of the two groups was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and comparison of anxiety sensitivity amongthe anxiety-disorder groups (panic disorder-PD, general anxiety disorder-GAD, social phobia- SP, obsessive-compulsive disorder-OCD) was investigated using Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS : All anxiety disorder groups showed higher total scores of the ASI-R than did the normal control group (Z=-13.724, p<.001), and the mean total score of the ASI-R in the panic disorder group was the highest among the anxiety disorder groups. The mean score of each lower-order factor of the ASI-R in each anxiety disorder group was higher than that of the normal control group and there were statistically significant differences in fear of cardiovascular symptoms (PD,GAD>SP,OCD), fear of respiratory symptoms (PD>GAD, SP,OCD), and fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions (SP>PD,OCD) among the anxiety disorder groups. CONCLUSION : These results suggest that anxiety sensitivity reflects vulnerability to anxiety disorders, and that lower-order factors of the ASI-R may help in the differential diagnosis of anxiety disorders.
