Introduction: Several studies on chronic lung diseases (i.e. COPD) have shown that the patient`s quality of life (QoL) can be influenced by disease-related fears (Reiinders et al., 2019; Keil et al., 2014). Based on the COPD-Anxiety-Questionnaire (CAF-R), the IAQ was developed to identify disease-related fears in ILD.

Aim and objectives: The aim was to psychometrically test the IAQ in ILD-patients and to investigate its differential predictive power for various facets of quality of life.

Methods: N = 166 ILD patients took part in the study. Demographic data, disease-specific QoL (K-BILD), general anxiety (GAD-7), and control beliefs regarding disease and health (KKG) were assessed. Psychometric properties were analyzed, regression analyses were used to calculate the differential predictive power of the various disease-related anxieties on QoL.

Results: The factor structure was confirmed (scales: fear of -progression, -dyspnea, -physical activity, -social exclusion and isolation, sleep related complaints). Good psychometric parameters were obtained (reliability: ? = .68 - .89; good convergent/ discriminant validity). The different scales showed a differential predictive power for facets of disease-related QoL (? = -.61, p < .001).

Conclusions: The IAQ represents a valid measurement tool for assessing disease-related fears in ILDs. It shows a differential predictive power for QoL. Thus, it could contribute to differential indication of potential psychological adjunctive interventions. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the effect of specific anxiety on general and disease-specific QoL in different settings.