ANXIETY SENSITIVITY IN 1984 AND PANIC ATTACKS IN 1987

Subjects to whom the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) was administered in 1984 were retested in 1987 for anxiety sensitivity and tested for panic attacks, state-trait anxiety, and anxiety disorder history. ASI scores in 1984 predicted the frequency and intensity of panic attacks in 1987. Compared to subjects with low 1984 ASI scores, subjects with high 1984 ASI scores were five times more likely to have an anxiety disorder during the period 1984 to 1987. Test-retest reliability for the ASI across three years was .71. The study provided evidence for the stability of anxiety sensitivity over a long period of time and for the exceptionally strong relationships over time among anxiety sensitivity, panic attacks, and panic disorder.