Recent data has linked anxiety and its disorders in late life to increased morbidity and mortality, especially related to a higher cardiovascular burden and an increased cognitive decline. Clinically, anxiety symptoms may be more difficult to elicit in older adults who are less accurate in identifying anxiety symptoms and tend to minimize symptoms and to attribute symptoms to physical illness. Although SSRIs have proven more effective than psychotherapy in late-life anxiety, many elderly anxious subjects prefer psychotherapeutic interventions. These interventions appear to work best when tailored for the needs, expectations, and cultural background of older anxious subjects.
Keywords: Cognitive decline; Late-life anxiety; Medical comorbidity; Tailored interventions.