ANXIETY DISORDERS IN DEMENTIA SUFFERERS

One hundred and fifty-eight consecutive patients attending a universit y memory clinic were assessed using a variety of standardized instrume nts. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria. One hundr ed and nine patients had DSM-III-R dementia, of whom 22% had subjectiv e anxiety, 11% experienced autonomic anxiety, 38% experienced tension, 13% experienced situational anxiety and 1.8% had panic attacks. Thirt y-two (29.4%) had one or more anxiety symptoms. None of the cognitive or demographic variables were significantly associated with the presen ce of anxiety symptoms. Three main categories of anxiety symptoms were evident-anxiety related to depression, anxiety related to psychosis a nd anxiety related to interpersonal situations.