Worry content reported by older adults with and without generalized anxiety disorder

This study investigated worry content in older adults with and without gene ralized anxiety disorder (GAD). This is an important topic of research, whe re findings may promote improved recognition and treatment of this disorder in late-life, as well as provide information about the nature of worry acr oss the lifespan. Worry content was compared for 44 older adults diagnosed with GAD and 44 normal control (NC) volunteers matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Results indicated that older adults with GAD reported a wider v ariety of worry topics than did NC participants. However, there were no dif ferences in worry content patterns between older adults with and without GA D. These results suggest that pathological worry in later life is not uniqu ely defined by content, and implications of these findings for assessment a nd treatment of GAD in older adults are discussed. Worry content reported b y older adults also was compared with previously published younger adult wo rry content data. Age differences in worry content were found in both the c linical and non-clinical groups in patterns that were generally consistent with common age-related developmental changes. Directions for future resear ch of worry across the lifespan are proposed.