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Handbook of Neuropsychology and Aging pp 80–97Cite as

Anxiety Disorders

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Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Neuropsychology ((CINP))

Abstract

Although symptoms of anxiety are more prevalent than affective symptoms in later life (Matt, Dean, Wang, & Wood, 1992), a review of the anxiety and aging literature as well as the anxiety and cognitive dysfunction literature reveals that much less attention has been focused on anxiety than on depression. It is estimated that 20% of elderly adults have “pathologic levels of anxiety” with even higher rates among the “old old” (Raj, Corvea, & Dagon, 1993), suggesting the need for health care providers of older adults to address anxiety. Neuropsychologists are asked to evaluate a variety of patients, some of whom, in the course of the evaluation, may reveal symptoms suggestive of an anxiety disorder. Although complaints of anxiety in older adults are not uncommon, appropriate treatment of these complaints seems to be rare, as suggested by studies examining prevalence and treatment rates in older community dwelling samples (Flint, 1994; Lindesay, 1991). Given the responsiveness of anxiety and depressive disorders to treatment, unlike many of the other disorders neuropsychologists are likely to diagnose, accurate identification of these disorders offers a unique opportunity for intervention which may greatly enhance the patient’s quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Service, Highland Drive Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15206, USA

    Carol J. Schramke

  2. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, USA

    Carol J. Schramke

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  1. Carol J. Schramke
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Aging Research and Education Center, Lutheran Affiliated Services, Mars, Pennsylvania, 16046, USA

    Paul David Nussbaum

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA

    Paul David Nussbaum

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Schramke, C.J. (1997). Anxiety Disorders. In: Nussbaum, P.D. (eds) Handbook of Neuropsychology and Aging. Critical Issues in Neuropsychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1857-4_7

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