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Six‐month prevalence and correlates of generalized anxiety disorder among primary care patients aged 70 years and above: Results from the ESA‐services study
Author(s) -
Grenier Sébastien,
Desjardins Frédérique,
Raymond Béatrice,
Payette MarieChristine,
Rioux MarieÈve,
Landreville Philippe,
Gosselin Patrick,
Richer MarieJosée,
Gunther Bruno,
Fournel Mélanie,
Vasiliadis HelenMaria
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.5023
Subject(s) - generalized anxiety disorder , primary care , anxiety , medicine , gerontology , aged care , anxiety disorder , epidemiology , cross sectional study , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , pediatrics , family medicine , pathology
Objectives To estimate the 6‐month prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in primary care patients aged 70 years and above and to describe their clinical profile, including types of worries. Methods/Design Participants (N = 1193) came from the Étude sur la Santé des Aînés (ESA) services study conducted in Quebec, Canada. An in‐person structured interview was used to identify GAD and other anxiety/depressive disorders as well as to identify types of worries. Three groups were created (ie, patients with GAD, patients with another anxiety disorder, and patients without anxiety disorders) and compared on several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results The 6‐month prevalence of GAD was 2.7%. Findings also indicated that the most common types of worries were about health, being a burden for loved ones, and losing autonomy. Compared with respondents without anxiety disorders, older patients with GAD were more likely to be women, be more educated, suffer from depression, use antidepressants, be unsatisfied with their lives, and use health services. In comparison with respondents with another anxiety disorder, those with GAD were 4.5 times more likely to suffer from minor depression. Conclusions GAD has a high prevalence in primary care patients aged 70 years and above. Clinicians working in primary care settings should screen for GAD, since it remains underdiagnosed. In addition, it may be associated with depression and life dissatisfaction. Screening tools for late‐life GAD should include worry themes that are specific to aging.