Anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty among veterans with subthreshold versus threshold PTSD.

Abstract

Objective: The extant literature has documented an association between anxiety sensitivity (AS; i.e., fears of anxious arousal due to the belief that such sensations will have harmful physical, cognitive, or social consequences) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU; i.e., an inability to tolerate the unpleasant response triggered by the absence of information) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about levels of AS and IU among individuals with subthreshold PTSD and, in particular, how these levels compare to individuals with threshold PTSD. Method: To this end, the current study examined mean levels of AS and IU (total and subscale scores) among veterans with subthreshold PTSD (n = 41; due to an insufficient number of symptoms [e.g., one D symptom vs. two]) versus veterans with threshold PTSD (n = 75). Results: Across both groups, mean levels of AS and IU were in the high range according to established cut scores. ANOVA results revealed significant group differences in IU total, prospective IU, and AS social (η2 = 0.04–0.09), with veterans with PTSD reporting significantly greater levels of each. There were no differences found for AS total, AS physical, AS cognitive, or IU inhibitory. Conclusions: Findings suggest that treatments targeting AS and IU may be relevant for individuals with threshold PTSD.