Conclusions : Of the most commonly used measures , the majority lacked sufficient evidence to warrant their use with older adults .
Based on psychometric evidence , three measures ( Beck Anxiety Inventory , Penn State Worry Question naire , and Geriatric Mental Status Examination ) showed psychometric properties sufficient to justify the use of these instruments when assessing anxiety in older adults .
In addition , two measures developed specifically for older adults ( Worry Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory ) were also found to be appropriate for use with older adults
Objectives : The authors set out to systematic ally review the research literature in order to identify the anxiety measures most commonly used in the assessment of older adults .
Once identified , the literature was review ed to determine the extent to which these instruments had age-relevant norms and psychometric data supporting their use with older adults .
Escitalopram for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.
CONTEXT Generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in older adults ; however , few data exist to guide clinicians in efficacious and safe treatment . Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) are efficacious for younger adults with GAD , but benefits and risks may be different in older adults . OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy , safety , and tolerability of the SSRI escitalopram in older adults with GAD . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS A r and omized controlled trial in primary care practice s and related specialty clinics in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , of 177 participants aged 60 years or older with a principal diagnosis of GAD r and omized to receive either escitalopram or placebo and conducted between January 2005 and January 2008 . INTERVENTIONS Twelve weeks of 10 to 20 mg/d of escitalopram ( n = 85 ) or matching placebo ( n = 92 ) . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cumulative response defined by Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score of much or very much improved ; time to response ; and anxiety and role functioning changes measured by the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale , Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale , Penn State Worry Question naire , Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument activity limitations subscale , and the role-emotional impairment and social function subscales of the Medical Outcome Survey 36-item Short Form . RESULTS In the primary analytic strategy in which participants ( n = 33 ) were censored at the time of dropout , mean cumulative response rate for escitalopram was 69 % ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 58%-80 % ) vs 51 % ( 95 % CI , 40%-62 % ) for placebo ( P = .03 ) . A conservative intention-to-treat analysis showed no difference in mean cumulative response rate between escitalopram and placebo ( 57 % ; 95 % CI , 46%-67 % ; vs 45 % ; 95 % CI , 35%-55 % ; P = .11 ) . Participants treated with escitalopram showed greater improvement than with placebo in anxiety symptoms and role functioning ( Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale : effect size , 0.93 ; 95 % CI , 0.50 - 1.36 ; P < .001 ; Penn State Worry Question naire : 0.30 ; 95 % CI , 0.23 - 0.48 ; P = .01 ; activity limitations : 0.32 ; 95 % CI , 0.01 - 0.63 ; P = .04 ; and the role-emotional impairment and social function : 0.96 ; 95 % CI , 0.03 - 1.90 ; P = .04 ) . Adverse effects of escitalopram ( P < .05 vs placebo ) were fatigue or somnolence ( 35 patients [ 41.1 % ] ) , sleep disturbance ( 12 [ 14.1 % ] ) , and urinary symptoms ( 8 [ 9.4 % ] ) . CONCLUSIONS Older adults with GAD r and omized to escitalopram had a higher cumulative response rate for improvement vs placebo over 12 weeks ; however , response rates were not significantly different using an intention-to-treat analysis . Further study is required to assess efficacy and safety over longer treatment duration s. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00105586
Conclusions : Of the most commonly used measures , the majority lacked sufficient evidence to warrant their use with older adults .
Based on psychometric evidence , three measures ( Beck Anxiety Inventory , Penn State Worry Question naire , and Geriatric Mental Status Examination ) showed psychometric properties sufficient to justify the use of these instruments when assessing anxiety in older adults .
In addition , two measures developed specifically for older adults ( Worry Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory ) were also found to be appropriate for use with older adults
Objectives : The authors set out to systematic ally review the research literature in order to identify the anxiety measures most commonly used in the assessment of older adults .
Once identified , the literature was review ed to determine the extent to which these instruments had age-relevant norms and psychometric data supporting their use with older adults .