title: Prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very little is known about the prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients. The current knowledge is predominantly based on information from population-based studies among elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of anxiety was measured with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in a sample of 333 nursing home patients of somatic wards of 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Participants were over 55 years, had a MMSE-score >14 and were able to communicate sufficiently. Information about demographic, health-related, psychosocial and care-related characteristics was collected in interviews with participants and from attending physicians and nursing home staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anxiety disorders was 5.7%, of subthreshold anxiety disorders 4.2% and of anxiety symptoms 29.7%. Only health-related characteristics (MMSE-score >23, depression, stroke) were significantly associated with anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety disorders. Demographic (>6 years education), health-related (depression, impaired vision, pain) and psychosocial characteristics (a recent negative life event) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. No care-related characteristics were associated with anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study population is a selective one (>55 years, MMSE >15, able to communicate sufficiently). The data were collected cross-sectionally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms occur frequently among nursing home patients and are mainly associated with health-related characteristics. Physicians should focus special attention on patients with depression or stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Home Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. m.smalbrugge@vumc.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smalbrugge
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pot
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jongenelis
authors.forename: A T F
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eefsting
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology