Anksiozna osjetljivost je strah od anksioznosti i s njom povezane fiziološke pobuđenosti koji proizlazi iz vjerovanja da će ti ona rezultirati štetnim tjelesnim, psihološkim ili socijalnim posljedicama. Pokazuje se da je povišena razina anksiozne osjetljivosti kognitivni rizični čimbenik za razvoj i održavanje različitih psihopatoloških problema, posebice anksioznih poremećaja. Snižavanje razine anksiozne osjetljivosti stoga bi moglo biti neophodno za njihovu prevenciju i tretman. Istraživanja sugeriraju da se povišena anksiozna osjetljivost može tretirati kognitivno-bihevioralnom terapijom, a rezultati kratkih računalno potpomognutih intervencija čine se osobito obećavajućima. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja provjeriti učinkovitost kratke, računalno potpomognute kognitivno-bihevioralne intervencije za redukciju anksiozne osjetljivosti u visoko anksiozno osjetljivih osoba te ispitati njezine učinke na pojavnost psihičkih teškoća tijekom jednogodišnjeg praćenja.
Ukupno 63 studenata s povišenom razinom anksiozne osjetljivosti po slučaju je raspodijeljeno u tri skupine: u jednoj je primijenjena kratka intervencija za redukciju anksiozne osjetljivosti (tretmanska skupina), u drugoj slična intervencija ali usmjerena na stres i zdravlje (placebo kontrolna skupina), dok treća nije dobila nikakav tretman (kontrolna skupina). Intervencija je trajala 45 minuta te je provedena putem računala. Prije tretmana, neposredno nakon njega te 7 i 12 mjeseci kasnije upitnicima je izmjereno znanje o anksioznoj osjetljivosti, anksiozna osjetljivost, anksioznost, opći psihopatološki problemi, a odgovor na tretman zahvaćen je i ponašajnim mjerama. Polovica sudionika iz tretmanske i placebo kontrolne skupine je 7 i 12 mjeseci nakon tretmana sudjelovala u dodatnoj seansi obnavljanja znanja o anksioznoj osjetljivosti odnosno o stresu i zdravlju.
Intervencija je poboljšala znanje visoko anksiozno osjetljivih osoba o bezopasnosti simptoma povezanih s anksioznošću. Iako nije rezultirala većom redukcijom anksiozne osjetljivosti, bila je povezana s ublažavanjem psihičkih poteškoća te poboljšanjem svakodnevnog funkcioniranja i funkcioniranja u socijalnim odnosima. Rezultati istraživanja su ohrabrujući, a u radu će se raspraviti o njihovim praktičnim implikacijama, kao i o ograničenjima i mogućim poboljšanjima provedenog istraživanja.Anxiety sensitivity is the fear of anxiety and anxiety-related physiological arousal symptoms, stemming from the belief that such symptoms will result in aversive somatic, psychological, or social consequences. Elevated levels of anxiety sensitivity have been considered as a cognitive risk factor for the development and maintenance of various psychopathological problems, particularly anxiety disorders. Hence, aiming at reducing anxiety sensitivity may be essential to their prevention and treatment. Studies suggest that high anxiety sensitivity can be successfully treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the results of brief computer-based interventions are especially promising. So the aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a brief computer-based cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at the reducing anxiety sensitivity in high anxiety sensitive individuals, and to prospectively evaluate the effects of this intervention on the incidence of various psychological problems during a 12-month follow-up period.
Sixty-three individuals with elevated anxiety sensitivity were randomized to one of three conditions: a psychoeducation targeting anxiety sensitivity (treatment group), an education on stress and health (placebo control group), and no-treatment control condition. Each intervention was delivered via computer and was completed in a single 45-minute session. Various self-report (anxiety sensitivity, anxiety sensitivity knowledge, anxiety, global distress) and behavioral measures were administered at pre- and post-treatment, as well as at 7- and 12-month follow-up. One half of participants from treatment group and one half from placebo control group received an educative booster session at 7-month follow-up.
Compared to both control groups, the treatment group had significantly higher knowledge on anxiety sensitivity at both post-treatment and follow-up period. Psychoeducation aiming at reducing anxiety sensitivit did not result in significant decrease in a fear of anxiety-related bodily symptoms, but it led to significant improvement of general, day-to-day functioning and functioning in social relationships, as well as improvement in general psychological distress.
The results of this study are promising for the preventative efficacy of a brief, computer-aided intervention. However, it seems that psychoeducation only is not sufficient for substantial reductions in anxiety sensitivity. Practical implications of these findings will be discussed, as well as limitations of the study
