Highlights COVID-19 psychological factors may be risk factors for substance use initiation. COVID-19-related worry is specifically related to using substances to cope during the pandemic. COVID-19-related psychological factors may require specific clinical attention.

Anxiety sensitivity, defined as the fear of anxiety and arousal-related sensations, has been among the most influential cognitive-based transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors in the study and treatment of emotional and related disorders. The currently available anxiety sensitivity measures are limited by their length. Specifically, the length of these instruments discourages the adoption of routine anxiety sensitivity assessment in clinical or medical settings (e.g., primary care). The goals of this study were to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a short version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3; Taylor et al., 2007), entitled the Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index (SSASI), using three independent clinical samples. Results indicated that the abbreviated five-item version of the SSASI had good internal consistency and a robust association with the ASI-3. Further, across the samples, there was evidence of unidimensionality and excellent convergent and discriminant validity. There also was evidence of partial measurement invariance across sex and full measurement invariance across time. Overall, the five-item scale offers a single score that can be employed to measure anxiety sensitivity. Use of the SSASI may facilitate screening efforts and symptom tracking for anxiety sensitivity, particularly within clinical settings where practical demands necessitate the use of brief assessment instruments.

ObjectivesCigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disability. Although most US smokers want to quit, more than 95% of cessation attempts end in relapse within 6 months. To improve cessation outcomes, research has turned to targetable mechanisms, such as anxiety sensitivity (AS), which maintain smoking behaviour, impede cessation success, and can be effectively targeted in the context of psychosocial interventions. Although integrated treatment programmes that address AS reduction in the context of smoking cessation have demonstrated promising results, presently, no mobile, technology‐based integrated treatment exists to expressly address smoking and AS. The current study evaluated the initial feasibility and acceptability of a mobile smoking cessation intervention, Mobile Anxiety Sensitivity Program for smoking (MASP).MethodsParticipants were 15 daily adult combustible cigarette smokers (females n = 6, Mage = 46.5 years, SD = 13.3) who completed a 6‐week total intervention period (baseline visit, 2 weeks pre‐quit, 4 weeks post‐quit, follow‐up visit).ResultsMost participants (N = 12) completed the full 6‐week intervention, and participant engagement with MASP was high. Participants reported that MASP was acceptable. Biochemical verification of smoking abstinence indicated 25% of smokers were abstinent for at least 24 hr prior to the in‐person 4 weeks post‐quit follow‐up visit.ConclusionsFindings indicated that MASP has the potential to provide effective assistance to those wanting to quit cigarettes.Practitioner points Mobile‐based smoking cessation interventions may be a promising treatment option, particularly for those of lower socio‐economic status. Targeting AS in the context of a mobile‐based smoking cessation app may be a viable way to improve smoking cessation success and treatment outcome. Due to the pilot nature of this study, there was no control group. Thus, comparative conclusions and generalizability based on the current study must be made with caution.

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