The prevalence of anxiety disorders in nursing homes

Residents in five nursing homes in central Sydney were asked to take part in a study of depression and anxiety. One hundred and seven subjects who scored 18 or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were interviewed using an anxiety questionnaire devised by Lindesay et al. (1989) as well as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Lindesay et al. found that 3.7% of elderly people in the community had generalized anxiety. Based on scores obtained on the anxiety questionnaire, 12 of the 107 (11.2%) were considered to have generalized anxiety. When subsequently these 12 were seen by a psychiatrist, the following DSM-III-R diagnoses were made: generalized anxiety disorder (3), panic disorder plus anxiety (one), mood disorder (three), schizophrenia (one), personality disorder (one) and no psychiatric disorder— realistic worries (3). As in previous studies, a strong association was shown between anxiety and depression; seven of the 12 (58%) were rated on the GDS as definitely depressed, compared with only 24% of the non-anxious. More of them were taking antidepressants. Phobic disorders were common (14% of subjects) but without causing persistent distress in most cases. Only two subjects had panic disorder.