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The aim of the present investigation was to extend previous work on anxiety sensitivity (AS) and early smoking relapse among a sample of 130 (74 females) young adult (M (age) = 22.5 years, SD = 2.1) daily low-level smokers (9.3 cigarettes/day, SD = 11.5) from Mexico City, Mexico. Results indicated that of the global-level and lower-order factors (i.e., physical, mental incapacitation, and social concerns) on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, only the physical concerns factor was significantly related to early lifetime smoking relapse. This effect was observed above and beyond the effects of negative affectivity, cigarettes smoked per day, and alcohol consumption, as well as beyond the other AS mental and social concerns factors. Findings provide novel evidence that AS is an important explanatory construct in early smoking relapse.

In view of the relatively understudied status of work-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study retrospectively examined 44 workers whose claims were accepted for workers' compensation benefits in the absence of significant coexisting physical injuries. The majority of workers (82%) directly experienced the traumatic event while the rest witnessed the event. Over half (54%) of those directly experiencing the event were involved in armed robberies, whereas 38% were physically or verbally assaulted in nonrobbery situations. Almost half of the workers were assigned a coexisting mood or anxiety diagnosis. Psychoactive medication was prescribed to 66% of workers, and 93% of all workers received some form of psychological/psychiatric treatment. Twenty-three percent of the group received vocational rehabilitation assistance and only 43% returned to their previous job with the accident employer. Findings suggest that work-related PTSD is both complex and disabling and merits further investigation.

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Workers' Compensation Board of British ColumbiaObjective: To determine whether individuals with traumatic upper limb amputations would report more symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than individuals with traumatic lower limb amputations. Study Design: Retrospective file review. Setting: CARF-accredited outpatient rehabilitation center. Participants: Thirty workers with unilateral upper limb amputations and 25 workers with unilateral lower limb amputations. Main Outcome Measures: Presence or absence of depression, symptoms of PTSD, and pain. Results: The upper limb group had a higher frequency of depression and symptoms of PTSD than the lower limb group. The 2 groups did not differ with respect to pain complaints. Conclusion: More so than injuries to the lower limbs, upper limb injuries may render individuals vulnerable to PTSD and depression.