Anxiety disorders: new developments in old age.

摘要

We are pleased to provide a guest editorial to this fifth special issue on geriatric anxiety in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (AJGP; previous issues: January 2005, August 2007, October 2008, June 2009). Until about 10 years ago, geriatric anxiety disorders largely escaped clinicians' and researchers' attention for a variety of reasons that were specified in the first AJGP special issue in anxiety disorders; namely, anxiety disorders do not commonly present in geriatric psychiatry settings unless comorbid with depression or dementia, the disorders are difficult to detect and diagnose in this age group, many anxiety disorders (such as social phobia) typically present early in life, and many if not most anxious elders are reluctant to participate in treatment. Despite these obstacles to detection, diagnosis, and treatment, significant progress has been made in understanding the course, prognosis, and treatment of anxiety disorders in elderly. It is reasonable to ask now: what do we know, and what do we still need to know?