Anxiety sensitivity, anxiety, and depression in older patients and their relation to hypochondriacal concerns and medical illnesses

Abstract

This study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity (the fear of anxiety symptoms because such symptoms are believed to have harmful consequences), anxiety, and depression in older adults and their relation to hypochondriacal concerns and medical illnesses. The sample included 53 clinic-referred (M age = 78.8 years), and 53 non-clinic referred (M age = 70.9 years) older adults. It was examined whether (1) anxiety sensitivity was elevated in the clinic-referred group relative to the non-referred group, (2) symptoms of anxiety, anxiety sensitivity and depression were related to number of medical illnesses and/or to hypochondriacal concerns, and (3) anxiety sensitivity was a better predictor of hypochondriacal concerns relative to depression or trait anxiety. The results indicated that anxiety sensitivity was significantly elevated in the clinic-referred group relative to the non-clinic referred group, was negatively associated with history of medical illnesses, was strongly associated with hypochondriacal concerns, and was a better predictor of hypochondriacal concerns than depression and trait anxiety. The findings are discussed in terms of problems facing older adults as they relate to the constructs of anxiety sensitivity and hypochondriacal concerns.

Loneliness and Anxiety Sensitivity: Understanding Behavioural Avoidance in the Lonely

“…While the prevalence of AS appears to be similar for younger and older adults [54], it has been reported to decrease from early development to old age [55]. Likewise, in the present study, variance in cell sizes prohibited the investigation of possible multivariate effects associated with gender.…”

Anxiety Sensitivity and Panic Symptomatology: The Mediator Role of Hypochondriacal Concerns

“…The results also indicate that anxiety sensitivity, in turn, is related to hypochondriacal concerns (Bravo & Silverman, 2001;Otto et al, 1992Otto et al, , 1998Watt & Stewart, 2000). Although these relationships have been previously documented, the precise nature of the relations among the three variables is not yet well understood or widely agreed upon.…”

“…Previous research has suggested that anxiety sensitivity may contribute to the development of hypochondriacal concerns (Bravo & Silverman, 2001;Otto et al, 1992Otto et al, , 1998Watt & Stewart, 2000). As Watt and Stewart (2000) noted, instrumental and vicarious learning experiences (i.e., parental reinforcement, modeling, etc.)…”

“…Thus, Otto, Pollack, Sachs and Rosenbaum (1992) found that, among a number of dimensions examined, anxiety sensitivity was the strongest predictor of hypochondriacal concerns in a sample of patients with panic disorders, as well as in a sample of patients with major depression without history of panic disorders (Otto, Demopulos, McLean, Pollack, & Fava, 1998). Several additional studies have found that anxiety sensitivity is a risk factor for the development of hypochondriasis (Bravo & Silverman, 2001;Watt & Stewart, 2000).…”

Cognitive aspects of anxiety and depression in the elderly

“…This construct is an individual difference dimension that refers to a heightened awareness and fear of anxiety-related symptoms. To examine anxiety sensitivity in older adults, Bravo and Silverman [32] noted that anxiety sensitivity was negatively related to a history of medical illnesses and was strongly associated with hypochondriacal concerns (anxiety sensitivity was a better predictor of hypochondriacal concerns than depression or anxiety). Ideally, closer study of general constructs which underlie many of the anxiety disorders (such as anxiety sensitivity) could help to expand our knowledge about anxiety among older adults.…”