Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Pain in Veterans: Indirect Association Through Anxiety Sensitivity

Authors

• Amanda M. Raines, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Sunni J. Primeaux, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
• Chelsea R. Ennis, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
• Jessica L. Walton, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
• Karen D. Slaton, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
• Joseph O. Vigil, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
• Nicholas P. Allan, Ohio University, Athens, OH
• Daniel J. Paulus, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
• Michael J. Zvolensky, University of Houston, Houston, TX
• Norman B. Schmidt, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
• C. Laurel Franklin, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-20-2021

Publication Title

Cognitive Therapy and Research

Abstract

Background: Despite high rates of comorbidity between pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known about factors that may account for this association. Previous research demonstrates that anxiety sensitivity (AS), the tendency to fear bodily sensations associated with anxious arousal, is elevated among patients with these conditions. However, no research to date has examined whether AS explains the association between pain and PTSD symptom severity. Methods: The current sample included 115 veterans with a trauma- and stressor-related disorder (i.e., PTSD or subthreshold PTSD) presenting for psychological services to an outpatient PTSD clinic at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Results: Findings revealed a significant association between self-reported pain and PTSD symptom severity that was indirect via AS and in particular, AS cognitive concerns. Conclusions: These findings, though limited by their cross-sectional nature, provide support for AS as a risk factor for perceived pain and PTSD symptoms, particularly among veteran samples.

First Page

209

Last Page

216

Volume

46

Issue

1

Rights

© 2026 Springer Nature

Recommended Citation

Raines, Amanda M.; Primeaux, Sunni J.; Ennis, Chelsea R.; Walton, Jessica L.; Slaton, Karen D.; Vigil, Joseph O.; Allan, Nicholas P.; Paulus, Daniel J.; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Schmidt, Norman B.; and Franklin, C. Laurel, "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Pain in Veterans: Indirect Association Through Anxiety Sensitivity" (2021). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 4977.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/4977
10.1007/s10608-021-10230-8