title: Modular psychotherapy for anxiety in older primary care patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and test a modular psychotherapy protocol in older primary care patients with anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based geriatric medicine clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one elderly primary care patients with generalized anxiety disorder or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Modular form of psychotherapy compared with enhanced community treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported, interviewer-rated, and qualitative assessments of anxiety, worry, depression, and mental health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed substantial improvements in anxiety symptoms, worry, depressive symptoms, and mental health-related quality of life. Most individuals in the enhanced community treatment condition reported receiving medications or some other form of professional treatment for anxiety. Across both conditions, individuals who reported major life events or stressors and those who used involvement in activities as a coping strategy made smaller gains than those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that modular psychotherapy and other treatments can be effective for anxiety in older primary care patients. Results further suggest that life events and coping through increased activity may play a role in the maintenance of anxiety in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-9116, USA. jwetherell@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Julie Loebach
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wetherell
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuevo
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Belding
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Melinda A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Areán
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unützer
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramsdell
authors.forename: Ronghui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs