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Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports 7/2015

01-07-2015 | Geriatric Disorders (W McDonald, Section Editor)

New Research on Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly and an Update on Evidence-Based Treatments

Authors: Carmen Andreescu, Daniel Varon

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 7/2015

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Abstract

Anxiety disorders are frequently encountered in the elderly, but they are largely undetected and untreated. Epidemiological studies indicate a prevalence ranging from 1.2 to 15 %. With the exception of generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, which can often start in late life, most anxiety disorders in older patients are chronic and have their onset earlier in life. Anxiety disorders are an often unrecognized cause of distress, disability, and mortality risk in older adults, and they have been associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. The mechanisms of anxiety in older adults differ from that in younger adults due to age-related neuropathology, as well as the loss and isolation so prominent in late life. Our review intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent research done in the field of anxiety disorders in the elderly. Recent findings in clinical research, neuroimaging, neuroendocrinology, and neuropsychology are covered. An update on treatment options is discussed, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives.
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Metadata
Title
New Research on Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly and an Update on Evidence-Based Treatments
Authors
Carmen Andreescu
Daniel Varon
Publication date
01-07-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0595-8

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