Relationships between catastrophic cognitions and body sensations in anxiety disordered, mixed diagnosis, and normal subjects

Clark's (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24, 461-470, 1986) cognitive model proposes that panic attacks result from the catastrophic misinterpretation of certain body sensations. The present study examined correlations between feared body sensations and catastrophic cognitions. It was hypothesized that regardless of diagnostic status meaningful correlations between sensations and cognitions would be obtained. Three groups--anxiety disordered patients (n = 33), nonanxiety disordered patients (n = 57), and normals (n = 60)--completed the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire and the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Results generally supported the hypothesis and the cognitive model of panic and anxiety. Limitations of the correlational methodology are discussed, and treatment implications are noted.