Medical conditions and depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in older adults with and without generalized anxiety disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine medical illness and anxiety, depressive, and somatic symptoms in older medical patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).


METHODS
A case-control study was designed and conducted in the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Geriatrics Clinics. A total of fifty-four older medical patients with GAD and 54 matched controls participated.


METHODS
The measurements used for this study include: Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule.


RESULTS
Older medical patients with GAD reported higher levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression than other older adults, as well as higher rates of diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions. In a multivariate model that included somatic symptoms, medical conditions, and depressive and anxiety symptoms, anxiety symptoms were the only significant predictors of GAD.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest first, that older medical patients with GAD do not primarily express distress as somatic symptoms; second, that anxiety symptoms in geriatric patients should not be discounted as a byproduct of medical illness or depression; and third, that older adults with diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions may benefit from screening for anxiety.
Wetherell
Julie Loebach
JL
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA. jwetherell@ucsd.edu
Ayers
Catherine R
CR
Nuevo
Roberto
R
Stein
Murray B
MB
Ramsdell
Joe
J
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires