Modular psychotherapy for anxiety in older primary care patients.
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.
Wetherell
Julie Loebach
JL
Psychiatry Department, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-9116, USA. jwetherell@ucsd.edu
Ayers
Catherine R
CR
Sorrell
John T
JT
Thorp
Steven R
SR
Nuevo
Roberto
R
Belding
Wendy
W
Gray
Emily
E
Stanley
Melinda A
MA
Areán
Patricia A
PA
Donohue
Michael
M
Unützer
Jurgen
J
Ramsdell
Joe
J
Xu
Ronghui
R
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
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
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs