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; Mage = 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. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fear reactivity to bodily sensations among heavy smokers and nonsmokers.

Individuals who smoke are more likely to experience panic attacks and develop panic disorder than those in the general population. One possible explanation is that smokers may experience a heightened fear response to somatic disturbances. To date, few laboratory studies have tested this hypothesis directly. The present study examined 24 adult heavy smokers (10 females) in 12-hr nicotine withdrawal and 24 adult nonsmokers (12 females) on subjective and physiological reactivity to a 4-min carbon dioxide rebreathing challenge. Results indicate that, despite an attenuated acceleration in respiration during the challenge, smokers experienced a significantly greater increase in self-reported panic symptoms than nonsmokers. In addition, smokers reported significantly greater trait levels of suffocation fear prior to the challenge. Findings are discussed with respect to the role of smoking in panic vulnerability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negative reinforcement/negative affect reduction cigarette smoking outcome expectancies: Incremental validity for anxiety focused on bodily sensations and panic attack symptoms among daily smokers.

The present investigation evaluated the incremental validity of negative reinforcement/negative affect reduction smoking outcome expectancies in the prediction of anxious and fearful responding to bodily sensations. Participants included 171 daily smokers (82 women, 89 men; mean age = 25.67 years, SD = 10.54). Consistent with prediction, negative reinforcement/negative affect reduction smoking outcome expectancies were significantly predictive of anxiety focused on bodily sensations and postchallenge intensity of cognitive panic attack symptoms, but not of physical panic symptoms. The observed effects were evident above and beyond the statistically significant variance accounted for by the covariates of anxiety sensitivity, negative affectivity, cigarettes per day, and weekly alcohol use and independent of other smoking outcome expectancy factors. Findings are discussed in terms of the role of negative reinforcement/negative affect reduction smoking outcome expectancies and vulnerability for panic symptoms and psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Posttraumatic stress disorder and anxious and fearful reactivity to bodily arousal: A test of the mediating role of nicotine withdrawal severity among daily smokers in 12-hr nicotine deprivation.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with high rates of smoking and fear of bodily perturbation. The current study examined the role of nicotine withdrawal in the association between PTSD and responding to bodily arousal among 52 participants (27 women; Mage = 30.50 years). Compared to participants without current axis I psychopathology, persons with current PTSD responded to a 3-min voluntary hyperventilation procedure with greater increases in anxiety and more intense cognitive and physical panic symptoms, despite no group differences in physiological arousal. Nicotine withdrawal demonstrated significant mediational effects in the relations between diagnostic group and panic symptoms elicited by the hyperventilation procedure. Findings suggest nicotine withdrawal is an important factor to consider in terms of better understanding the nature of fear responding to bodily sensations among persons with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)