ANXIETY SENSITIVITY IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

A possible role of anxiety in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is still controversial. We included the new concept of anxiety sensitivity (ie fears of anxiety symptoms) in the psychometric evaluation of hypertensive patients. Twenty patients with essential hypertension successfully managed by nifedipine and 20 normal subjects were administered two self-rating scales, the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI). Compared to controls, hypertensive patients showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of anxiety sensitivity measured by ASI, and no differences in anxiety and well-being measured by SQ. Increased anxiety sensitivity could be a consequence of the diagnosis of hypertension or constitute itself a predisposing factor for its development.