title: Prevalence and correlates of generalized anxiety disorder in a national sample of older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study are to provide current estimates of the prevalence and correlates of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used Wave 2 data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, which included 12,312 adults 55+ and older. In addition to examining the prevalence of GAD in the past year, this study explored psychiatric and medical comorbidity, health-related quality of life, and rates of help-seeking and self-medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The past-year prevalence of GAD in this sample was 2.80%, although only 0.53% had GAD without Axis I or II comorbidity. The majority of individuals with GAD had mood or other anxiety disorders, and approximately one quarter had a personality disorder. Individuals with GAD were also more likely to have various chronic health problems although these associations disappeared after controlling for psychiatric comorbidity. Health-related quality of life was reduced among older adults with GAD, even after controlling for health conditions and comorbid major depression. Finally, only 18% of those without and 28.3% with comorbid Axis I disorders sought professional help for GAD in the past year. Self-medication for symptom relief was rare (7.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GAD is a common and disabling disorder in later life that is highly comorbid with mood, anxiety, and personality disorders; psychiatric comorbidity is associated with an increased risk of medical conditions in this population. Considering that late-life GAD is associated with impaired quality of life but low levels of professional help-seeking increased effort is needed to help individuals with this disorder to access effective treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. corey_mackenzie@umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Corey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Kee-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pagura
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sareen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*