The Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Anxiety Sensitivity in a College Sample

PTSD diagnosis and nonmedical use of benzodiazepines among African American incarcerated men: the mitigating effect of John Henry active coping

The current study examined the relationship between PTSD and nonmedical use of benzodiazepines (BZDs) based on level of John Henry Active Coping (JHAC) among African American incarcerated men. Data were derived from the Helping Incarcerated Men (HIM) Study (n = 208). Nonmedical use of BZDs was measured for the 30 days before incarceration. Current PTSD diagnosis and JHAC were determined using DSM-5 criteria and the JHAC Scale. Adjusted logistic regression analyses showed PTSD diagnosis was significantly associated with nonmedical BZD use (p = .011), but that JHAC did not significantly mitigate this relationship. African American incarcerated men may experience an unmet need with regards to mental health treatment.

Pandemic Fatigue and Anxiety Sensitivity as Associated Factors With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among University Students in South Korea During the Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: The global impact of COVID-19 driven by new variants may add to the negative mental health consequences of the prolonged pandemic, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). University students may be prone to develop a series of PTSS due to life plan disruptions as well as increased uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between pandemic fatigue, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and PTSS among university students in South Korea. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 400 students participated in this cross-sectional online survey. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models were used to examine factors associated with PTSS. Results: About one-third (32.3%) of the participants reported clinically significant levels of PTSS. Multivariate analyses revealed that pandemic fatigue (β = 0.124, p < 0.001) and AS (β = 0.212, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with PTSS while controlling for other study variables. Conclusion: Young adults who feel more fatigue related to the COVID-19 pandemic and with high AS should be given access to mental health resources to better manage their mental health and reduce PTSS.

A preliminary assessment of the link between anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns and suicidal thoughts through dissociative symptoms

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) and AS subfactors (physical, cognitive, and social) have been found to have robust associations with suicide risk. While the direct association between AS subfactors and suicide risk have been explored, little is known about how specific mechanisms, such as dissociation, might explain this relationship. This study aimed to run three analyses to examine the direct and indirect effects of suicidal thoughts and AS via dissociative symptoms. We predicted that dissociation would be a pathway through which AS physical concerns (ASPC) and AS cognitive concerns (ASCC) predicts suicidal ideation. Participants included 84 undergraduate students from a Southeastern University who were elevated on ASCC. Participants completed measures examining dissociative experiences, anxiety sensitivity, and current suicidal ideation. Results revealed that dissociation had a significant indirect effect with ASPC but not ASCC. The current preliminary study showed that ASCC had direct associations with suicide risk; however, those with lower levels of ASPC and dissociation may also be more likely to develop suicide risk. Future research should explore the possibility that the dissociation/ASPC and ASCC pathways are separate, but related, paths to suicidality.