Brief CBT for high anxiety sensitivity decreases drinking problems, relief alcohol outcome expectancies, and conformity drinking motives: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial MARGO WATT 1 , SHERRY STEWART 1 , CHERYL BIRCH 2 ,& DENISE BERNIER 2 1 Department of Psychology, St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, and 2 Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada Abstract Background: High anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of anxiety sensations) is associated with frequent and problem drinking (Stewart, Samoluk, & MacDonald, 1999). Aims: It was hypothesized that a program designed to reduce AS levels in young adult women would also result in a decrease in their dysfunctional drinking behavior. Method: The brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention was conducted in small group format. Participants were selected to form high and low AS groups, according to their scores on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; Peterson & Reiss, 1992), and randomly assigned to participate in 3 one-hour sessions of either brief CBT (i.e., psycho-education, cognitive restructuring, and physical exercise interoceptive exposure) or a control group seminar (discussion about psychology ethics). Drinking measures were assessed at pre-treatment and 10 weeks post-intervention. Results: Following the intervention, high AS participants in the CBT condition revealed significant reduction in conformity motivated drinking and emotional relief expectancies, as well as a 50% reduction in proportion meeting criteria for hazardous alcohol use as compared to other three groups. Conclusion: Findings suggest that alcohol abuse might be effectively prevented among high risk individuals with a brief CBT approach targeting high AS, and that AS may operate as one underlying determinant of dysfunctional drinking behavior. Declaration of interests: None. Keywords: Anxiety sensitivity, cognitive-behavioural treatment, drinking behaviour, co-morbidity Introduction Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of arousal-related bodily sensations (e.g., increased respiration and palpitations) arising from beliefs that these sensations have harmful consequences (e.g., illness, loss of control, or embarrassment) (Reiss, 1991). AS has been implicated in the development and maintenance of anxiety-related psychopathology, particularly panic attacks (Schmidt, Lerew, & Jackson, 1997), although recently researchers have begun to examine the role of AS in other disorders such as substance abuse (e.g., Stewart & Kushner, 2001; Stewart, Peterson, & Pihl, 1995). Indeed, some anxiety disorders Correspondence: Margo Watt, Department of Psychology, St Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2W5, Canada. E-mail: mwatt@stfx.ca Journal of Mental Health, December 2006; 15(6): 683 – 695 ISSN 0963-8237 print/ISSN 1360-0567 online Ó Shadowfax Publishing and Informa UK Ltd. DOI: 10.1080/09638230600998938