Anxiety disorders in Late Life

In the United States, anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of psychiatric disorders [1]. They cause significant social and functional impairments in individuals who are affected by these disorders [2]. Current data indicates that the prevalence of anxiety disorders in greater in the older adults than previously acknowledged [3]. The rates of anxiety symptoms that did meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis in older adults were 15% to 20% in the general community and primary care samples [4]. The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) found that among adults older than 60 years in age, the prevalence of any anxiety disorder was 15.3%. Among the anxiety disorders, specific phobia was the most prevalent (7.5%) followed by social phobia (6.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (3.6%), posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) (2.5%), panic disorder (2%), agoraphobia without panic (1%) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (0.7%) [1].