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Comorbidity of the anxiety disorders in a community‐based older population inThe Netherlands
Author(s) -
Van Balkom A. J. L. M.,
Beekman A. T. F.,
De Beurs E.,
Deeg D. J. H.,
Van Dyck R.,
Van Tilburg W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.101001037.x
Subject(s) - anxiety , comorbidity , psychiatry , anxiety disorder , depression (economics) , population , clinical psychology , generalized anxiety disorder , medicine , psychology , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate patterns of comorbidity among the anxiety disorders in a community‐based older population, and the relationship of these disorders with major depression, use of alcohol and benzodiazepines, cognitive impairment and chronic somatic illnesses. Method: The data were derived from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) study. A two‐stage screening design was adopted to identify respondents with anxiety disorders. Results: In total, 10% of the elderly with an anxiety diagnosis suffered from two or more anxiety disorders. Major depression (13% vs. 3%), benzodiazepine use (24% vs. 11%) and chronic somatic diseases (12% vs. 7%) were significantly more prevalent in respondents with an anxiety disorder than in respondents without anxiety disorders. Heavy or excessive alcohol intake (5% vs. 4%) and cognitive impairment (11% vs. 13%) were not significantly associated with any anxiety disorder. Conclusion: When anxiety disorders are diagnosed, in older people there is a relatively high probability of comorbid conditions being present.