TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2000//
TI  - Comorbidity of the anxiety disorders in a community-based older population in The Netherlands
JO  - Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
A1  - van Balkom, A. J.
A1  - Beekman, A. T.
A1  - de Beurs, E.
A1  - Deeg, D. J.
A1  - Van Dyck, R.
A1  - van Tilburg, W.
SP  - 37
EP  - 45
VL  - 101
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate patterns of comorbidity among the anxiety disorders in a community-based older population, and the relationship of these disorders with major depression, use of alcohol and benzodiazepines, cognitive impairment and chronic somatic illnesses. METHOD: The data were derived from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) study. A two-stage screening design was adopted to identify respondents with anxiety disorders. RESULTS: In total, 10% of the elderly with an anxiety diagnosis suffered from two or more anxiety disorders. Major depression (13% vs. 3%), benzodiazepine use (24% vs. 11%) and chronic somatic diseases (12% vs. 7%) were significantly more prevalent in respondents with an anxiety disorder than in respondents without anxiety disorders. Heavy or excessive alcohol intake (5% vs. 4%) and cognitive impairment (11% vs. 13%) were not significantly associated with any anxiety disorder. CONCLUSION: When anxiety disorders are diagnosed, in older people there is a relatively high probability of comorbid conditions being present.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0001-690X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -