Anxiety Sensitivity in Agoraphobics

This study further validated the "Reiss-Epstein-Gursky Anxiety Sensitivity Index" (ASI) as a measure of the fear of anxiety. Agoraphobics scored high on the ASI before, but not after, behavioral treatment. Residual anxiety sensitivity, however, did not predict resurgence of agoraphobic avoidance at six months follow-up. Indeed, anxiety sensitivity continued to decline during the follow-up period. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the ASI predicted the number of fears in agoraphobics beyond that predicted by the level of general anxiety. This finding supports the hypothesis that high anxiety sensitivity enhances fear acquisition; it also suggests that the ASI measures a construct different from that measured by general anxiety scales. Empirical similarities and differences were found between the ASI and two other "fear of fear" measures: the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire and the Body Sensations Questionnaire.