Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine medical illness and anxiety, depressive, and somatic symptoms in older medical patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Method: A case-control study was designed and conducted in the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Geriatrics Clinics. A total of fifty-four older medical patients with GAD and 54 matched controls participated. Measurements: The measurements used for this study include: Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule. Results: Older medical patients with GAD reported higher levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression than other older adults, as well as higher rates of diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions. In a multivariate model that included somatic symptoms, medical conditions, and depressive and anxiety symptoms, anxiety symptoms were the only significant predictors of GAD. Conclusion: These results suggest first, that older medical patients with GAD do not primarily express distress as somatic symptoms; second, that anxiety symptoms in geriatric patients should not be discounted as a byproduct of medical illness or depression; and third, that older adults with diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions may benefit from screening for anxiety.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 924376300 |
Pages (from-to) | 764-768 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Aging and Mental Health |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- elderly
- somatization
- depression
- QUALITY-OF-LIFE
- ELDERLY-PATIENTS
- RISK-FACTORS
- HEALTH
- EPIDEMIOLOGY
- DISABILITY
- DISEASE