Child anxiety sensitivity index: Considerations for children with anxiety disorders

Investigated the phenomenon of anxiety sensitivity in children diagnosed with anxiety disorders using the Child Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI; Silverman, Fleisig, Rabian, & Peterson, 1991). Among children 12 years and older, the CASI was found to predict unique variance in trait anxiety beyond simpler constructs of physical distress or fear. In 7- to 11-year olds, however, the CASI did not predict unique variance in the same analyses. Product-term regression analysis demonstrated a significant nonlinear interaction of age with anxiety sensitivity. Although there is support for the construct of anxiety sensitivity in children with anxiety disorders, it appears that such a phenomenon may be limited to older developmental levels. Findings challenge existing notions of the applicability of the CASI across ages.