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Anxiety and impaired social function in the elderly
Susan K Schultz1, Angela Hoth, Kathleen Buckwalter
1Psychiatry Research, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1000, USA.
Summary
Anxiety significantly impairs daily living activities in elderly individuals, even when accounting for depression and cognitive issues. Targeted anxiety interventions are crucial for this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly individuals in long-term care settings often experience multiple comorbidities.
- Anxiety is a prevalent psychiatric condition that can impact overall well-being and functional status.
- The specific impact of anxiety on activities of daily living (ADL) in this population requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between anxiety and functional impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) among elderly residents of long-term care facilities.
- To determine if anxiety's effect on ADL is independent of cognitive status and depressive symptoms.
- To highlight the need for effective anxiety management strategies in geriatric care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 81 elderly individuals in a long-term care setting.
- Comprehensive assessments included psychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, and ability to perform ADL.
- Multivariate analysis was employed to assess the independent contribution of anxiety to functional status.
Main Results:
- Anxiety was found to be significantly associated with reduced functional status in performing ADL.
- This association remained statistically significant after controlling for depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment.
- Anxiety demonstrated a substantial negative impact on social function, beyond that of depression and cognitive decline.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety is a significant contributor to morbidity and functional decline in elderly individuals residing in long-term care.
- The findings underscore the importance of addressing anxiety as a distinct factor impacting ADL.
- Developing targeted interventions for anxiety in the elderly is critical, especially considering potential adverse cognitive effects of current treatments like benzodiazepines.