GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER AND PANIC DISORDER IN THE ELDERLY - A REVIEW

Practicing psychiatrists frequently encounter elderly patients with ge neralized anxiety disorder or panic disorder. Unfortunately, the empir ical literature regarding the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of these illnesses in older individuals is sparse, despite the attention directed to them in younger patients. In this paper studies of general ized anxiety and panic disorders among the elderly are reviewed and co mpared to similar investigations among younger adults to assess our cu rrent understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and trea tment of these conditions. Articles were selected from those retrieved by Index Medicus (papers in English, published in 1992 or later; sear ch terms ''anxiety,'' ''anxiety disorders,'' ''panic disorder,'' and ' 'elderly'').