Anxiety Sensitivity and Pain-Related Anxiety Among Sexual Assault Survivors With Hazardous Drinking and PTSD.

INTRODUCTION

Sexual violence is a major public health issue associated with poorer mental health and greater alcohol use problems. Limited work has examined the underlying constructs that may help explain risk for these outcomes among those with a history of sexual violence and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who engage in hazardous drinking (heightened alcohol consumption that increases risk for negative consequences).

METHODS

The present investigation evaluated anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety as correlates of mental health and clinically significant alcohol use processes among 133 persons (83 persons identified as female and 96 persons identified as White) with a history of traumatic sexual assault who engaged in hazardous drinking.

RESULTS

Anxiety sensitivity was associated with severe mental health problems, whereas pain-related anxiety was related to alcohol use processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that specific transdiagnostic constructs may be important to understanding mental health and alcohol use processes among this population.