Anxiety Sensitivity as a Transdiagnostic Construct in Development and Maintenance of Emotional Disorders: A Literature Review

Background and Aim: Anxiety sensitivity or fear of anxiety and its associated physical sensations as a transdiagnostic construct have attracted increasing attention in the developmental psychopathology of emotional disorders and their treatment.Considering the multidimensional nature of anxiety sensitivity similar response of patients to anxiety, many studies have been conducted on the role of this construct in predicting and maintaining of emotional disorders. The aim of this study was to review various studies in this field for better understanding of the anxiety sensitivity in the development and continuation of emotional disorders, its assessment, and therapeutic measures. Materials and Methods: This was a literature review study. Articles were searched in the Google Scholar search engine and the databases of PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. Results: Most studies about anxiety sensitivity in emotional disorders have emphasized the role of this construct in the development and maintenance of these disorders. Currently, the third version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index as a validated index has the most psychometric evidence. The importance of this construct in psychopathology has given it a special position in both diagnosis-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy and transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy. Conclusions: It seems that anxiety treatment not only reduces the symptoms of emotional problems but also improves response to treatment. Therefore anxiety sensitivity should be considered in the assessment, selective conceptualization, and treatment of emotional disorders.