New Information About Panic and Mood Disorders Among Older Adults
The prevalence of anxiety disorders affecting older men and women is receiving renewed study and attention as the population of older adults in the United States is increasing. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco sheds new light on the rate of panic and anxiety disorders among the elderly – namely, the likelihood of developing an anxiety or panic disorder decreases with age but remains extremely common, especially in women.
In the study, published by the Archives of General Psychiatry in the May issue, 2,575 volunteers from across the country over the age of 55 were observed over one year to gather information about panic and anxiety disorders. Panic disorders, social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and agoraphobia were among those classified as "anxiety disorders."
Overall, the prevalence of these disorders among women in the study was higher than with men, suggesting women are at a higher risk than men as they age. Perhaps surprisingly, the researchers determined that rates of disorders decreased as participants aged. Also, the rate of disorders showed little change between people of different race or ethnicity. This study is only the most recent evidence that mental health issues among the elderly are becoming an issue that younger Americans must eventually come to grips with.
Increased awareness of panic and anxiety disorders among communities of older Americans will continue to grow in importance and urgency. The number of older adults is growing rapidly, and disorders such as these can have consequential negative medical and social outcomes. Public health officials will continue to grapple with the effects of an aging population, and mental health issues among the elderly will likely become an issue of intense study and attention. Much more is yet to be taught about the causes of panic and anxiety disorders and the effects on the general population that accompanies them.
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