Obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety sensitivity: Identification of specific relations among symptom dimensions

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a well-established individual difference variable reflecting the tendency to fear bodily sensations associated with anxious arousal. AS is composed of three subfactors including physical, cognitive, and social concerns. Although AS has been consistently linked to the development and maintenance of several anxiety disorders, little research has examined the relationship between AS subfactors and obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms. The primary aim of the current investigation was to extend previous research by examining the relationships between these constructs within a clinical population. The sample consisted of 76 treatment seeking adults with a primary diagnosis of OCD. Multiple regression analyses revealed that AS was significantly associated with OC symptom severity even after controlling for anxiety and MDD diagnoses. In addition, the three subfactors of AS were found to be differentially related to the five OC symptom domains (checking, ordering, neutralizing, washing, and obsessing). These results corroborate previous work suggesting a unique and important relationship between AS and OC symptoms. In addition, the current study provides initial evidence clarifying the nature of this relationship within an OCD population.