Is Anxiety Sensitivity a Predictor of PTSD in Children and Adolescents?

81 Turkish children exposed to an earthquake 5 years prior and 87 comparison children (no earthquake or trauma exposure) completed a survey of anxiety sensitivity, trait and state anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. Researchers investigated how anxiety sensitivity may be a vulnerability factor in the development of PTSD. Children exposed and not exposed to an earthquake did not differ on anxiety sensitivity, depression, anxiety, or PTSD scores. However, trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity predicted PTSD symptoms above and beyond the effect of trait anxiety.