Relations between anxiety sensitivity and panic symptoms in nonreferred children and adolescents

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), the fear of anxiety-related sensations, has been posited to be a cognitive risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders but has been understudied in youth. The purpose of the present investigations was to evaluate relations between AS and panic symptoms in nonreferred children and adolescents. In Study 1, ( N=113, mean age, 13.98), scores on the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) predicted the experience of uncued panic attacks after controlling for general anxiety and depression, although the total variance accounted for was small. In Study 2 ( N=52; mean age, 9.48), the Panic/Agoraphobia subscale of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale was used as the criterion variable. CASI score again predicted panic symptoms after controlling for trait anxiety and depression. Identification of a risk factor for panic attacks and panic disorder in youth will have important implications for etiologic theory, intervention, and prevention.