Main and Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Physical Distress Intolerance with Regard to PTSD Symptoms Among Trauma-exposed Smokers

Overview

Journal J Trauma Dissociation

Publisher Routledge

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2014 May 8

PMID 24803147

Citations 6

Authors

Samantha G Farris

Anka A Vujanovic

Julianna Hogan

Norman B Schmidt

Michael J Zvolensky

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present study examined the roles of anxiety sensitivity (AS; the tendency to misinterpret physical internal sensations of harmful) and distress tolerance (the capacity to tolerate aversive stimuli) in terms of the expression of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among a sample of trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking tobacco smokers (n = 137; Mage = 37.7 years, 48.2% female). It was hypothesized that higher AS and lower physical distress tolerance would interact to predict greater PTSD avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms. Results were partially consistent with this prediction. Specifically, there was a significant interactive effect of AS by physical distress tolerance in terms of PTSD hyperarousal symptom cluster severity. The form of the interaction was in the expected direction, with the highest levels of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms reported among smokers with higher levels of AS and a lower capacity to tolerate physical distress. Findings underscore the importance of considering AS and physical distress tolerance in terms of better understanding mechanisms underlying the expression of PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed smokers.

Citing Articles

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Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Tolerance Typologies and Relations to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Cluster Analytic Approach.

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A Multimodal Study of Childhood Trauma and Distress Tolerance in Young Adulthood.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder and tobacco use: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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The Relationship between Anxiety Sensitivity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: What is the Impact of Nicotine Withdrawal?.

Asnaani A, Farris S, Carpenter J, Zandberg L, Foa E Cognit Ther Res. 2015; 39(5):697-708.

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