title: Anxiety symptoms and disorder predict activity limitations in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the elderly, little attention has been paid to anxiety both on a symptom dimension and as a disorder, as an independent risk factor for the incidence of activity limitations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a community-dwelling cohort of 1581 persons aged 65+, the association between trait anxiety symptoms (Spielberger Trait, third highest tertile) and baseline DSM-IV anxiety disorder, and 7-year incident activity limitations was determined using mixed logistic regression models. Repeated measures of activity limitations included, by increased severity level: social restriction (neighbourhood and house confined), mobility (Rosow and Breslau scale) and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the sample, 14.2% had an anxiety disorder at baseline. Adjusting for baseline socio-demographic and health variables, depression (past and current), antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs, baseline anxiety disorder was associated with an increased risk of incident IADL limitation (OR (95% CI): 1.84 (1.01-3.39), p=0.048) and trait anxiety with increased incidence of social restriction (OR (95% CI): 2.41 (1.42-4.09), p=0.001). Associations remained significant in participants free of depressive symptoms at baseline (OR (95% CI): 2.92 (1.41-6.05), p=0.004; OR (95% CI): 3.21 (1.31-7.89), p=0.011, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activity limitations were self-reported and may have been over-reported in participants with anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both trait anxiety symptomatology and anxiety disorder were independently associated with increased incidence of activity limitations with a gradient of severity: trait anxiety associated with incident social restriction and anxiety disorder with more severe IADL limitations, suggesting that anxiety is a predictor of activity limitations in the elderly independently of depression comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1061, Montpellier, F-34093, France; University Montpellier 1, Montpellier, F-34000, France. Joanna.norton@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Marie Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ancelin
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berr
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carrière
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents