Does anxiety sensitivity predict addiction severity in opioid use disorder?. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stathopoulou, Georgia; Gold, Alexandra K.; Hoyt, Danielle L.; Milligan, Megan; Hearon, Bridget A.; Otto, Michael W.
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 112(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Anxiety sensitivity -- Addiction Severity Index -- Opioid use disorders; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106644
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Highlights: We evaluated anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a predictor of addiction-related problems. Participants in this study had treatment-refractory opioid use disorders. AS was a significant predictor of Addiction Severity Index medical status. AS was a significant predictor of Addiction Severity Index psychiatric status. Sex did not moderate the relationship between AS and addiction-related problems. Abstract: Increased anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of anxiety-related cognitive, social, and physical symptoms which are misinterpreted as having harmful implications, has shown a relationship with substance use disorders. People with substance use disorders also experience addiction-related problems across domains of life functioning. However, few studies have evaluated the relationship between elevated AS and addiction-related problems across specific life areas. We evaluated, first, whether AS predicted addiction-related problems in a sample of treatment-refractory outpatients with opioid use disorders and, second, whether sex moderated the relationship between AS and addiction-related problems in this sample. Participants with treatment-refractory opioid use disorders ( n = 92, 53.3% male) completed baseline assessments of AS (the Anxiety Sensitivity Index) and addiction-related problems (the Addiction Severity Index). Baseline AS total score was a significant independent predictor of both baseline Addiction Severity Index medical status (β = 0.29, t = 2.84, p = .006) and psychiatric status (β = 0.30, t = 2.99, p = .004) composite scores but was not associated with social, employment or legal difficulties. These findings were maintained when controlling for drug use severity, though baseline AS total score became a significant predictor of baseline legal difficulties (β = −0.23, t = −2.25, p = .027). There was no moderating role of sex on the relationship between baseline AS and addiction-related problems. Our findings suggest that, regardless of sex, elevated AS predicts increased addiction-related medical and psychiatric problems, and decreased legal problems when accounting for drug use severity, in outpatients with opioid use disorders