Identifier

etd-07082011-074944

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Differences in the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS; Gray, 1982), response inhibition, and cardiac vagal control are evident between individuals with anxiety and nonclinical control participants. In this study, the role of inhibition in anxiety was examined, as well as relationships between the primary indexes of inhibition including the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), response inhibition, and cardiac vagal tone (or heart rate variability) at rest and during tasks of response inhibition. Additionally, anxiety sensitivity, an established risk factor for developing anxiety disorders, was examined and how it relates to indexes of inhibition. As expected, inhibition and anxiety sensitivity were found to be related symptoms of anxiety in an older adolescent sample. Indexes of inhibition were found to be related to each other; however, several relationships were not statistically supported. Finally, inhibition was found to be a related and likely an important factor in anxiety sensitivity. These findings extend research in the area of anxiety risk factors and neurophysiology of anxiety and have implications for informing etiological models of anxiety.

Date

2011

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Davis, Thompson

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.3746

Included in

Psychology Commons

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