Anxiety disorders - How to recognize and treat the medical symptoms of emotional illness

Anxiety symptoms in older patients frequently coexist with depression, medi cal illness, and dementia, which complicate diagnosis and treatment. Most a nxiety disorders do not begin in later life but are a recurrence or worseni ng of a pre-existing condition. Anxiety should be considered in any older p atient with depressive symptoms or somatic complaints that are not explaine d by physical examination. Older patients may benefit from cognitive-behavi oral therapy and relaxation training. Antidepresants, particularly selectiv e serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are the preferred medical treatment.