ABSTRACT
Reiss and colleagues (Reiss, 1987, 1991; Reiss & McNally, 1985; Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, & McNally, 1986) defined anxiety sensitivity (AS) as the fear of anxiety and anxiety-related sensations arising from beliefs that anxiety and related sensations have harmful consequences. Theoretical and empirical work over the past two decades accords AS and closely related constructs (such as the fear of fear) a central role in the nature and etiology of the anxiety disorders in general and panic disorder in particular (e.g., Barlow, 1988, 1991; Clark, 1986; Goldstein & Chambless, 1978; McNally, 1990; Reiss, 1991; Reiss & McNally, 1985; Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, & McNally, 1986).
