Detecting Anxiety in Long-Term Care Residents: A Systematic Review

Anxiety is common in long-term care (LTC), but it is unclear which anxiety detection tools are accurate when compared to a reference standard for residents of LTC. Four databases and grey literature sources were searched using the search concepts "anxiety" and "LTC". Included studies evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of an anxiety detection tool compared to a reference standard in LTC residents. Diagnostic accuracy measures were extracted. Four articles out of 4,620 met the inclusion criteria. Despite limited evidence and poorly reported study procedures and characteristics, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 86.2%) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 80.6%) had the best performance when detecting generalized anxiety disorder. We identified four anxiety detection tools appropriate for use in LTC; a critical first step to diagnosing and managing anxiety in residents of LTC. Non-generalized anxiety disorders and tool feasibility must be further evaluated.