Anxiety disorders in later life: a report from the longitudinal aging study Amsterdam

Salivary cortisol is associated with diagnosis and severity of late-life generalized anxiety disorder

“…Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common disorder in older adults with a prevalence as high as 7% (Flint, 1994;Beekman et al, 1998). GAD is defined by excessive and uncontrollable anxiety and worry about various life events, producing an important source of subjective distress (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).…”

Panic disorder in later life: results from a national survey of Canadians

“…A number of studies have excluded older adults altogether or not provided prevalence estimates by age group (Eaton et al, 1994;Kessler et al, 1994;Carlbring et al, 2002;Goodwin et al, 2005). Using DSM-III criteria, Beekman et al (1998) reported 12-month estimates for the youngest (55-64 years: 0.8%), middle (65-74 years: 1.7%) and oldest old (75-85 years: 0.5%) in their survey of adults from the Netherlands. Six-month and lifetime estimates of 0.3% and 1.2% respectively, were reported in a sample of adults aged 65 years and older in Edmonton, Canada (Bland et al, 1988b).…”

“…While some studies indicate that low education and low income are risk markers for PD or anxiety disorders in general (Eaton et al, 1994;Beekman et al, 1998), many studies have not assessed measures of socioeconomic position as predictors of PD (Wittchen and Essau, 1993). Finally, PD is associated with a number of other psychiatric disorders, including agoraphobia and depression (Beekman et al, 2000;Goodwin et al, 2005).…”

European ageing research in the social, behavioural and health areas: a multidimensional account

“…In a number of countries, local cohorts were established to study the health of the oldest-old, the earliest ones in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands (Femia et al 1997;Goebeler et al 2003;Izaks et al 1995;Jeune et al 2006;Ahacic et al 2007). Mental health, in particular depression and anxiety, was a relatively understudied aspect in ageing populations up to the 1990s, and the multidisciplinary LASA study was among the first to shed light on this problem (Beekman et al 1998;Beekman et al 1999), also showing its strong link with physical health (Penninx et al 2001). Research taking advantage of the geographic diversity in Europe has brought important insights regarding health lifestyles (e.g.…”