Aims and Background: Epidemiological surveys and clinical studies show that anxiety states commonly co-occur with alcohol use disorders in Australian adults. There is strong evidence from the anxiety disorders field that an individual’s sensitivity to the internal sensations of anxiety (a construct known as Anxiety Sensitivity: AS) plays an important role in the development and maintenance of disorders such as panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Emerging evidence suggests that AS may also play an important role in driving substance abuse, and may put people at risk of dropping out from treatment early or relapsing following treatment. That is, the individuals who are sensitive to sensations of anxiety during and after withdrawal from alcohol are thought to be more at risk of relapse into drinking. This study was designed to assess AS in adults entering alcohol detoxification and treatment in a number of private hospitals in Southeast Queensland.
Methods: In addition to a psychiatric diagnostic interview, participants were assessed with the Anxiety Sensitivity Index – 3rd version (ASI-3), the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale and the Timeline Followback interview for drinking measures at entry to hospital, and at discharge and 3 months after discharge.
Results: Norms on the ASI-3 will be presented for this alcohol dependent sample, as well as relationships between ASI-3 and alcohol-related and psychosocial outcomes measured 3 months after discharge from hospital.