(PS1-A18) Relations Between Anxiety Sensitivity Subcomponents, Suicidality, and Alcohol-induced Blackouts

Alcohol-induced blackouts are periods of memory loss during all or part of a drinking episode (e.g., Wetherill & Fromme, 2016). Alcohol-induced blackouts are associated with various negative consequences in undergraduates, including embarrassment, interpersonal problems, academic concerns, injury, and arrests (Merrill et al., 2019; Wetherill & Fromme, 2016). Further, having a history of alcohol-induced blackouts has been linked with the development of alcohol dependence (Struder et al., 2019; Yuen et al., 2021). Thus, identifying factors that may predict alcohol-induced blackouts is needed. One such factor may be anxiety sensitivity (AS), or fear of anxiety-based sensations (Olatunji & Wolitzky-Taylor, 2009). Anxiety sensitivity has three subcomponents; physical, cognitive, and social concerns (e.g., Taylor et al., 2007). Importantly, anxiety sensitivity has been linked to increased levels of hazardous drinking amongst undergraduates (Paulus & Zvolensky, 2020). Further, each anxiety sensitivity subcomponent has been related to suicidal ideation and risk (Stanley et al., 2018). Finally, people at elevated risk for suicide may also be more likely to experience blackouts (Bae et al., 2015). However, less is known about relations between specific AS subcomponents (physical, cognitive, and social), suicidality, and blackouts.
 

In the current study, recent drinkers (past 30 days) from a mid-sized Midwestern university (n=1633; 60.7% identified as women; 93.4% White; mean age =19.86 years) completed an online survey assessing campus climate and mental health. Participants completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (Taylor et al., 2007) and answered questions about their blackout history and if they had ever thought of, planned, or attempted suicide in the past year. 49.7% reported experiencing a blackout. In the past year, 12.7%, 3.6%, and 1.3% respectively thought about, made a plan for attempting, or attempted suicide. Those who thought, planned, or attempted suicide had higher levels of each subcomponent of AS compared to those who did not. Only those who planned a suicide attempt were more likely to have experienced a blackout. Three logistic regressions predicted blackout history from type of AS and plan for attempting suicide. In each, those who made a plan were more likely to have a blackout history. Those with higher AS social and cognitive concerns were more likely to have a blackout history. Results demonstrate elevated AS and history of planning a suicide attempt in the past may be relevant in assessing blackout risk, with clinical implications for additional assessment and intervention for those who have experienced this alcohol-related consequence.