Body vigilance in panic disorder: Evaluating attention to bodily perturbations

Author(s): Lerew, D. R., Trakowski, J. H.

Journal/Book: J Consult Clin Psychol. 1997; 65: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 214-220.

Abstract: Body vigilance, consciously attending to internal cues, is a normal adaptive process. The present report investigated whether body vigilance is exaggerated among those with panic disorder, a condition characterized by intense fear and worry regarding bodily sensations. The Body Vigilance Scale is validated in nonclinical and anxiety disorder samples. Study 1 suggests that body vigilance is normally distributed in a nonclinical sample (n = 472) but vigilance is related to a history of spontaneous panic attacks, anxiety symptomatology, and anxiety sensitivity. Study 2 suggests that body vigilance is elevated in panic disorder patients (n = 48) relative to social phobia patients (n = 18) and nonclinical controls (n = 71). During cognitive-behavioral treatment, panic disorder patients show substantial reductions in body vigilance associated with reductions in anxiety symptomatology. Anxiety sensitivity was found to be related to body vigilance and to predict changes in body vigilance during treatment.

Note: Article Schmidt NB, Uniformed Serv Univ Hlth Sci, Dept Med & Clin Psychol, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda,MD 20814 USA

Keyword(s): PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; INVENTORY; AGORAPHOBIA; ANXIETY; FEAR

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