Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of anxiety sensitivity in predicting seizure likelihood and QOL among 49 people with epilepsy (PWE; 63.3% female; Mage = 48.53, SD = 15.91). As hypothesized, after controlling for the effects of negative affectivity and past year seizure presence, greater levels of anxiety sensitivity significantly predicted poorer overall QOL as well as the QOL domains of seizure worry, medication effects, work-driving-social limitations, and cognitive functioning (8.8–22.9% unique variance). Anxiety sensitivity did not significantly predict seizure likelihood or QOL related to emotional well-being and energy difficulties. These findings suggest that PWE who are fearful of arousal-related sensations experience greater functional impairment, but not necessarily more severe epilepsy. Interventions aimed at decreasing anxiety sensitivity may be useful in improving QOL in this population.
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This work was supported by an American Psychological Association of Graduate Students Basic Psychological Science Research Grant and a University of Cincinnati Graduate Student Governance Association Research Fellowship award to Adrienne L. Johnson.
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Adrienne L. Johnson, Alison C. McLeish, Talya Alsaid‑Habia, Paula K. Shear, and Michael Privitera declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Johnson, A.L., McLeish, A.C., Alsaid-Habia, T. et al. Anxiety Sensitivity as a Predictor of Epilepsy-Related Quality of Life and Illness Severity Among Adult Epilepsy. Cogn Ther Res 43, 6–13 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9951-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9951-4