title: Measuring anxiety in the elderly: psychometric properties of the state trait inventory of cognitive and somatic anxiety (STICSA) in an elderly Italian sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite its increasing personal and societal impact, assessment of late-life anxiety has received relatively little attention in psychiatric research. Differential symptom presentation and physical comorbidities among the elderly, relative to younger cohorts creates a need for anxiety measures that are psychometrically validated in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study examined the factor structure and discriminant validity of the state-trait inventory for cognitive and somatic anxiety (STICSA) in a sample of Italian middle-aged and older adults. Participants were 396 community-dwelling middle-aged (50-64 years) and older (≥65 years) adults. In addition to the STICSA, participants completed two depression measures and a general well-being survey with physical and mental health subscales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis supported the validity of both state-trait and cognitive-somatic distinctions underlying the STICSA, all dimensions exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficients ≥ 0.86), and correlations with depression measures provided limited evidence for differentiation of anxious and depressive symptoms. The STICSA also showed evidence of discriminating anxious symptoms from physical health symptoms, a particularly relevant feature of a valid anxiety measure in elderly samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STICSA appears to be a valid measure of cognitive and somatic anxiety in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences,Humanities and Territory,"G. d'Annunzio" University,Via dei Vestini 30,66100 Chieti,Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balsamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences,Humanities and Territory,"G. d'Annunzio" University,Via dei Vestini 30,66100 Chieti,Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innamorati
authors.affiliation: Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research,Orangeburg,NY 10962,USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Van Dam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences,Humanities and Territory,"G. d'Annunzio" University,Via dei Vestini 30,66100 Chieti,Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences,Humanities and Territory,"G. d'Annunzio" University,Via dei Vestini 30,66100 Chieti,Italy.
authors.forename: Aristide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saggino
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: depression