The phenomenology of non-clinical panic in older adults in comparison to younger adults

Panic Attacks and Their Relation to Psychological and Physical Functioning in Canadians: Results from a Nationally Representative Sample

“…19 PAs have been similarly linked to poorer quality of life, reduced income, and an increase in disability and unemployment, compared with those without PAs. 3,20,21 Several researchers found associations between PA and increased comorbidity with mental health disorders, 2,3,10,11,16,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, 23,[31][32][33][34] and physical health problems. [35][36][37][38] There is also evidence that PAs may be a marker of severe psychopathology.…”

Specific phobias in older adults: characteristics and differential diagnosis

“…Late onset panic disorder in particular is less severe (Deer and Calamari, 1998), possibly due to biological factors (Flint et al, 1998). Isolated panic attacks or subclinical panic symptoms are less frequent in older adults when compared with their younger counterparts (Depp et al, 2005), and are usually not accompanied by significant family history of panic (Segui et al, 2000), supporting the idea that exposure and conditioning might be privileged etiologic mechanisms in panic disorder in older cohorts.…”

Anxiety in older adults with dementia residing in long-term care facilities.

“…According to Beck and colleagues (1996), 11 % of older adults diagnosed with GAD had concurrent major depression, and those diagnosed with GAD tended to report higher levels of depression. Social anxiety, panic, and GAD have been associated with increased depression in older adults (Chou, 2009;Depp, Woodruff-Borden, Meeks, Gretarsdottir, & DeKryger, 2005;Gretarsdottir et aI., 2004). Furthermore, the presence of anxiety or depression in older adults increases the likelihood of developing clinically significant symptoms of either disorder that are more severe and chronic (Brenes et aI., 2005;Schoevers, Deeg, van Tilburg, & Beekman, 2005).…”