Anxiety Sensitivity

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is the fear of anxiety sensations which arises from beliefs that these sensations have harmful somatic, social, or psychological consequences. Over the past decade, AS has attracted a great deal of attention from researchers and clinicians with more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles published. In addition, AS has been the subject of numerous symposia, papers, and posters at professional conventions. Why this growing interest? Theory and research suggest that AS plays an important role in the etiology and maintenance of many forms of psychopathology, including anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, and substance abuse. Bringing together experts from a variety of different areas, this volume offers the first comprehensive state-of-the-art review of AS--its conceptual foundations, assessment, causes, consequences, and treatment--and points new directions for future work. It will prove to be an invaluable resource for clinicians, researchers, students, and trainees in all mental health professions.

Steven Taylor

Contents: S. Rachman, Foreword. Preface. Part I:Conceptual Foundations.R.J. McNally, Theoretical Approaches to the Fear of Anxiety. S. Taylor, I.C. Fedoroff, The Expectancy Theory of Fear, Anxiety, and Panic: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis. S. Reiss, The Sensitivity Theory of Aberrant Motivation. Part II:Psychometric Foundations.R.A. Peterson, K. Plehn, Measuring Anxiety Sensitivity. R.E. Zinbarg, J. Mohlman, N.N. Hong, Dimensions of Anxiety Sensitivity. B.J. Cox, S.C. Borger, M.W. Enns, Anxiety Sensitivity and Emotional Disorders: Psychometric Studies and Their Theoretical Implications. S.O. Lilienfeld, Anxiety Sensitivity and the Structure of Personality. Part III:New Research on Basic Mechanisms: Causes and Consequences of Anxiety Sensitivity.R.J. McNally, Anxiety Sensitivity and Information-Processing Biases for Threat. M.B. Stein, R.M. Rapee, Biological Aspects of Anxiety Sensitivity: Is It All in the Head? N.B. Schmidt, Prospective Evaluations of Anxiety Sensitivity. Part IV:New Directions in Anxiety Sensitivity Research.W.K. Silverman, C.F. Weems, Anxiety Sensitivity in Children. G.J.G. Asmundson, Anxiety Sensitivity and Chronic Pain: Empirical Findings, Clinical Implications, and Future Directions. S.H. Stewart, S.B. Samoluk, A.B. MacDonald, Anxiety Sensitivity and Substance Use and Abuse. M.W. Otto, N.A. Reilly-Harrington, The Impact of Treatment on Anxiety Sensitivity. Part V:Conclusions.S. Taylor, B. Rabian, I.C. Fedoroff, Anxiety Sensitivity: Progress, Prospects, and Challenges.