Unexpected arousal, anxiety sensitivity, and their interaction on CO2 -induced panic: Further evidence for the context-sensitivity vulnerability model

Highlights ► This experiment tested predictions from the context-sensitivity model of panic. ► Subjects’ high in anxiety sensitivity (AS) were more likely to show greater fear responding to 35% CO2 inhalation relative to subjects low in anxiety sensitivity, however this relationship was strongly moderated by the experimental manipulation of threat context. ► High AS subjects who were led to expect that 35% CO2 inhalation would produce feelings of relaxation showed markedly greater fear and probability of panic relative to High AS subjects who were led to expect heightened arousal. ► As predicted, subjects low in AS were unaffected by the manipulation of the “unexpectedness” of CO2 effects. ► These findings provide additional support for the role of context in moderating the effects of anxiety sensitivity on fear responding to biological challenge.