Emotion dysregulation as a maintenance factor for posttraumatic stress symptoms: The role of anxiety sensitivity.
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OBJECTIVES: The current study tested whether emotion dysregulation, assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), would predict posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) through anxiety sensitivity (AS). Alternate cognitive-affective mediators (i.e., distress tolerance and intolerance of uncertainty) were explored. METHOD: A total of 259 trauma-exposed community members (ages averaging 37.39; evenly distributed by gender) from a larger clinical trial targeting suicide risk factors completed a clinical interview and self-report questionnaires at baseline, Week-3, and 1-month follow-up appointments. RESULTS: AS at Week 3 significantly mediated the relationship between initial emotion dysregulation and 1-month follow-up posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after controlling for condition and baseline symptoms (=.07; standard error=0.03; 95% confidence interval=[0.01, 0.14]). Effects held for one out of six emotion dysregulation subscales. Distress tolerance and intolerance of uncertainty were not significant mediators (ps>.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that emotion dysregulation may confer maintenance of PTSS through AS. Findings highlight potentially malleable targets for interventions.