The moderating role of distress tolerance in the association between anxiety sensitivity physical concerns and panic and PTSD-related re-experiencing symptoms

Abstract

The present investigation evaluated the moderating role of distress tolerance (DT) in the relation between the physical concerns (PC) dimension of anxiety sensitivity (AS–PC) and panic and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related re-experiencing symptoms in a nonclinical, undergraduate sample (n = 416; 300 females; M _age=20.3 years, SD = 4.8). Consistent with prediction, there was a significant interactive effect between AS–PC and DT in regard to panic symptoms, such that greater AS–PC and low DT was associated with greater panic symptoms after controlling for the variance accounted for by negative affectivity and the respective main effects. However, contrary to prediction, AS–PC and DT did not significantly interact to predict PTSD-related re-experiencing symptoms. Also consistent with prediction, there was no interactive effect apparent for symptoms of depression or general anxiety, suggesting that the interaction between AS–PC and DT is specific to panic psychopathology.