Anxiety Sensitivity, Acute Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms, and Anxious and Fearful Responding to Bodily Sensations: A Laboratory Test

The present investigation examined the moderating role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in regard to the relation between acute nicotine withdrawal and anxious and fearful responding to a 10% carbon dioxide-enriched air (CO2) procedure. Ninety daily smokers (35 women; M-age = 28.87, SD = 12.12) were assigned randomly to one of two groups (12-hr nicotine deprivation or smoking "as usual") and subsequently underwent a 10% CO2 provocation challenge. Partially consistent with prediction, results indicated that the AS by nicotine withdrawal (group status) interaction was significantly predictive of peri-challenge anxiety ratings (anxiety during the challenge), but not skin conductance reactivity. Findings are discussed in the context of the role of AS in amplifying smoking-based fear responses to bodily sensations.