title: Age-related changes in generalized anxiety disorder symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the effects of age on the symptoms of anxiety disorder. Accordingly, this study sought to investigate age-related differences in the number and kind of symptoms that distinguish between individuals with and without a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 3,486 self-reported worriers was derived from Wave 1 of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), an epidemiological survey of mental health conducted in the U.S.A. in 2001-2002. Participants were stratified into the following age groups (18-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-98 years), and then divided into diagnostic groups (GAD and non-GAD worriers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that four distinct sets of symptoms were associated with GAD in each age group, and that numerically fewer symptoms were associated with GAD in older adults. Moreover, there were graduated changes in the type and number of symptoms associated with GAD in each successive age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are graduated, age-related differences in the phenomenology of GAD that might contribute to challenges in the detection of late-life anxiety.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Beyon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miloyan
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Pachana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult