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Age-related changes in generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2014

Beyon Miloyan ,
Gerard J. Byrne  and
Nancy A. Pachana
Beyon Miloyan*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Gerard J. Byrne
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Nancy A. Pachana
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Beyon Miloyan, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Phone: +61-4-35-945-469. Email: b.miloyan@uq.edu.au.
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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 USA 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.

Keywords

anxietyGADolder adultdiagnosissymptom presentationassessment
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , April 2014 , pp. 565 - 572
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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