Woud, Marcella L.Zhang, Xiao ChiBecker, Eni S.McNally, RichardMargraf, Jürgen2016-04-052014Woud, Marcella L., Xiao Chi Zhang, Eni S. Becker, Richard J. McNally, and Jürgen Margraf. 2014. “Don’t Panic: Interpretation Bias Is Predictive of New Onsets of Panic Disorder.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders 28 (1) (January): 83–87. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.11.008.0887-6185http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:26370198Psychological models of panic disorder postulate that interpretation of ambiguous material as threatening is an important maintaining factor for the disorder. However, demonstrations of whether such a bias predicts onset of panic disorder are missing. In the present study, we used data from the Dresden Prediction Study, in which a epidemiologic sample of young German women was tested at two time points approximately 17 months apart, allowing the study of biased interpretation as a potential risk factor. At time point one, participants completed an Interpretation Questionnaire including two types of ambiguous scenarios: panic-related and general threat-related. Analyses revealed that a panic-related interpretation bias predicted onset of panic disorder, even after controlling for two established risk factors: anxiety sensitivity and fear of bodily sensations. This is the first prospective study demonstrating the incremental validity of interpretation bias as a predictor of panic disorder onset.en-USinterpretation biaspanic disorderrisk factorprospectiveanxiety sensitivityfear of bodily sensationsJournal Article10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.11.008