Sensitivity of Gray’s Behavioral Inhibition System in clinically anxious and non-anxious children and adolescents

The child version of the Carver and White (1994) BIS/BAS-scales (Muris et al., 2005) was used to assess sensitivity of the Behavioral Inhibition and the Behavioral Activation System in clinically anxious and non-anxious youth (n = 175, ages 8–18 years, 70 boys). Results supported the hypothesis that clinical anxiety is associated with overactivity in the BIS (Gray, 1982). Consistent with the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (Gray & McNaughton, 2000) the BIS-scale consists of two subscales, one measuring BIS_Anxiety and one measuring FFFS_Fear. BIS-scores were higher in the anxious sample than in the non-anxious sample. BAS-scores were equal. Higher levels of BIS-activity were related with an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression. BIS-scores were higher in girls than in boys, there were no gender differences in BAS-scores.