Prevalence of anxiety disorders in elderly adults: a critical analysis

The authors examined the prevalence of anxiety disorders in elderly adults as presented in a recent review of the topic (Flint, 1994) where it was concluded that these disorders are rare in this segment of the population. Considering that anxiety research with older adults often involves instruments and criteria that have not been validated with elders, it is suggested that results may lack validity and underestimate the occurrence of anxiety in this age group. Issues that should be considered in the assessment of anxiety in elderly adults are reviewed. In particular, elderly persons may tend to somatize anxiety symptoms and there is a large overlap between anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms among older persons. It is concluded that anxiety may present differently in elderly persons and estimates of prevalence should await more research in this area.