What happens when anxiety sensitivity is under the pressure of anxiety pathology?

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is the fear of anxiety symptoms, a feature proven to be an important vulnerability factor for anxiety pathogenesis. Although considered a stable personality trait, research also demonstrates that AS elevates under the onset of anxiety disorders. This reciprocal process hasn’t been fully explored therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the changes in AS and its dimensions in participants who experienced panic attack and in those with the onset of panic disorder. A prospective study was conducted on a sample of students at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb (N=521). The participants self-assessed the presence of mental disease and completed an Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) at baseline. After a period of three years ASI was administered again and the experience of panic attack as well as presence of panic disorder criteria (DMS-5) were self-asses. Significant increase in AS and its dimensions was found in subjects that experienced panic attack and among those with panic disorder after three years. The increase in AS level is greater for the individuals with panic disorder than it was for those with experience of panic attack. In comparison to them results reveal no statistical changes in AS (or AS dimensions) level in the group of healthy participants (without the onset of panic attack or panic disorder). These results contribute to the explanation of the reciprocal model of AS and anxiety pathology. Possible mechanism of this scar effect of panic attack and disorder on AS will be discussed.