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[Development of a structured anxiety interview for seniors]
B Nowotny1, B Schlote-Sautter, E R Rey
1II. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Mannheim.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie
|July 1, 1990
Summary
This study developed a new structured inventory for assessing anxiety in older adults, addressing a lack of appropriate tools and norms for this age group. The reliable and valid instrument measures cognitive, physiological, and behavioral anxiety components relevant to the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychological Assessment
- Anxiety Research
Context:
- Traditional self-rating anxiety instruments present practical challenges for elderly subjects.
- Existing norm data for anxiety assessment is insufficient for individuals aged 65 and above.
Purpose:
- To develop and validate a structured inventory for assessing anxiety in the elderly.
- To create an instrument that accounts for age-specific anxiety themes and environmental factors.
Summary:
- A new structured inventory for anxiety in the elderly (SAIS) was developed, incorporating cognitive, physiological, and behavioral components.
- Pilot studies identified relevant anxiety themes for older adults, considering their environment and comprehension.
- Reliability studies (N=54, mean age 72) demonstrated high internal consistency (rtt = .91) and split-half reliability (rtt = .95).
- Factor analysis identified five key anxiety factors: general anxiety, nervousness, fear of physical disability, personal insecurity, and fear of helplessness.
Impact:
- Provides a psychometrically sound instrument for the reliable assessment of anxiety in older populations.
- Addresses a critical gap in geriatric mental health assessment tools.
- Facilitates further research into anxiety disorders and their management in the elderly.