Level of intolerance of uncertainty and related factors in patients with anxiety disorders / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the level of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and possible related factors in the patients with anxiety disorders. Methods: The patients' diagnosis was made according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM- ). Thirty-five cases of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 15 cases of panic disorder (PD) and 31 healthy controls (HC group) were recruited at the same time. IU level was assessed by using the Chinese version of Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). The characteristics of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and body perception were assessed by Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Body Perception Questionaire (BPQ), respectively. Results: The IU levels of both GAD group and PD group were significantly higher than those of HC group (P=0.000). There was no significant difference in IU levels between GAD group and PD group (P=0.491). The IU levels of GAD patients were positively correlated with HAMA-somatic anxiety (r=0.377, P=0.025) and BPQ-awareness (r=0.342, P=0.044). Conclusion: The patients with anxiety disorders have elevated IU levels, compared with healthy people. Possibly, somatic anxiety and body perception-awareness are related factors to IU in GAD patients.