1- Department of Psychology, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Abstract: (193 Views)
Background & Objectives: Panic disorder is a complex syndrome that begins with unexpected panic attacks, predicting subsequent defense mechanisms such as anxiety. Anxiety sensitivity is one of the variables that occur in individuals with panic. Anxiety sensitivity refers to the fear of anxiety-related feelings based on beliefs about physical, social, or cognitive adverse consequences. On the other hand, studies have shown that high levels of neuroticism are associated with anxiety disorders, phobias, social anxiety, and depression. In addition, childhood trauma and injury also play a role in panic disorders. The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and subsequent mental health problems such as adolescence and adulthood has been proven in many studies. As mentioned, factors such as anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and childhood trauma can play an important role in the onset and severity of mental disorders. So far, no research has been done to identify the factors affecting panic disorders in adolescents. Therefore, given the sensitivity of adolescence, it is necessary to conduct research to identify the effective characteristics of panic disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and childhood trauma in adolescents with panic symptoms and normal adolescents.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. The statistical population of the study consisted of all second-high school students in Babol City during the academic year 2020-2021. Using the multi-stage cluster sampling method, 460 questionnaires were completed by visiting schools. Among them, 60 adolescents who scored 20 or higher on the panic disorder questionnaire were selected as the panic group, and 60 normal adolescents who scored lower than 10 on Dillon et al.'s panic disorder questionnaire (1987) were randomly selected for comparison. The research tools included Dillon et al.'s panic disorder questionnaire (1987), the Revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index by Reiss et al. (1987), the NEO_FFI personality traits by Costa and McCrae (1992), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire by Bernstein et al. (2003). The data were analyzed using an independent t-test at a significant level of 0.05 with SPSS-21 software.
Results: Out of 60 samples with panic symptoms, 25 (41.7%) were boy and 35 (58.3%) were girl, and out of 60 normal samples, 27 (45%) were boy and 33 (55%) were girl. In the panic group, the highest age was 17 years with 23 frequency (38.3%), and in the normal group 18 years with 24 frequency (40%). In terms of educational level, the 12th grade was the most common in both groups (22 people in the panic group and 25 people in the normal group). In the panic group, most of the sample people were studying in the field of humanities (30%) and in the normal group, most of the people were studying in the field of experimental sciences (31.7%). The results showed that there were significant differences in the mean anxiety sensitivity (t=-5.24, p<0.001), neuroticism (t=-7.59, p<0.001), and childhood trauma (t=-6.46, p<0.001) between the two groups of adolescents with panic symptoms and normal group.
Conclusion: According to the significant difference between anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and childhood trauma between adolescents in the panic group and the normal group, it can be said that the identification of risk factors plays a significant role in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of adolescents with panic disorder. On the other hand, by identifying the risk factors, problems can be prevented in the future of the affected adolescents.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. The statistical population of the study consisted of all second-high school students in Babol City during the academic year 2020-2021. Using the multi-stage cluster sampling method, 460 questionnaires were completed by visiting schools. Among them, 60 adolescents who scored 20 or higher on the panic disorder questionnaire were selected as the panic group, and 60 normal adolescents who scored lower than 10 on Dillon et al.'s panic disorder questionnaire (1987) were randomly selected for comparison. The research tools included Dillon et al.'s panic disorder questionnaire (1987), the Revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index by Reiss et al. (1987), the NEO_FFI personality traits by Costa and McCrae (1992), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire by Bernstein et al. (2003). The data were analyzed using an independent t-test at a significant level of 0.05 with SPSS-21 software.
Results: Out of 60 samples with panic symptoms, 25 (41.7%) were boy and 35 (58.3%) were girl, and out of 60 normal samples, 27 (45%) were boy and 33 (55%) were girl. In the panic group, the highest age was 17 years with 23 frequency (38.3%), and in the normal group 18 years with 24 frequency (40%). In terms of educational level, the 12th grade was the most common in both groups (22 people in the panic group and 25 people in the normal group). In the panic group, most of the sample people were studying in the field of humanities (30%) and in the normal group, most of the people were studying in the field of experimental sciences (31.7%). The results showed that there were significant differences in the mean anxiety sensitivity (t=-5.24, p<0.001), neuroticism (t=-7.59, p<0.001), and childhood trauma (t=-6.46, p<0.001) between the two groups of adolescents with panic symptoms and normal group.
Conclusion: According to the significant difference between anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, and childhood trauma between adolescents in the panic group and the normal group, it can be said that the identification of risk factors plays a significant role in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of adolescents with panic disorder. On the other hand, by identifying the risk factors, problems can be prevented in the future of the affected adolescents.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Psychology
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