TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients
AU - Smalbrugge, M.
AU - Pot, A. M.
AU - Jongenelis, K.
AU - Beekman, A. T.F.
AU - Eefsting, J. A.
PY - 2005/10/1
Y1 - 2005/10/1
N2 - Background: Very little is known about the prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients. The current knowledge is predominantly based on information from population-based studies among elderly. Methods: Prevalence of anxiety was measured with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in a sample of 333 nursing home patients of somatic wards of 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Participants were over 55 years, had a MMSE-score > 14 and were able to communicate sufficiently. Information about demographic, health-related, psychosocial and care-related characteristics was collected in interviews with participants and from attending physicians and nursing home staff. Results: The prevalence of anxiety disorders was 5.7%, of subthreshold anxiety disorders 4.2% and of anxiety symptoms 29.7%. Only health-related characteristics (MMSE-score > 23, depression, stroke) were significantly associated with anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety disorders. Demographic (> 6 years education), health-related (depression, impaired vision, pain) and psychosocial characteristics (a recent negative life event) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. No care-related characteristics were associated with anxiety. Limitations: The study population is a selective one (> 55 years, MMSE > 15, able to communicate sufficiently). The data were collected cross-sectionally. Conclusions: Anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms occur frequently among nursing home patients and are mainly associated with health-related characteristics. Physicians should focus special attention on patients with depression or stroke.
AB - Background: Very little is known about the prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients. The current knowledge is predominantly based on information from population-based studies among elderly. Methods: Prevalence of anxiety was measured with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in a sample of 333 nursing home patients of somatic wards of 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Participants were over 55 years, had a MMSE-score > 14 and were able to communicate sufficiently. Information about demographic, health-related, psychosocial and care-related characteristics was collected in interviews with participants and from attending physicians and nursing home staff. Results: The prevalence of anxiety disorders was 5.7%, of subthreshold anxiety disorders 4.2% and of anxiety symptoms 29.7%. Only health-related characteristics (MMSE-score > 23, depression, stroke) were significantly associated with anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety disorders. Demographic (> 6 years education), health-related (depression, impaired vision, pain) and psychosocial characteristics (a recent negative life event) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. No care-related characteristics were associated with anxiety. Limitations: The study population is a selective one (> 55 years, MMSE > 15, able to communicate sufficiently). The data were collected cross-sectionally. Conclusions: Anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms occur frequently among nursing home patients and are mainly associated with health-related characteristics. Physicians should focus special attention on patients with depression or stroke.
KW - Aged 65 and older
KW - Anxiety
KW - Long-term care
KW - Risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24644472979&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.06.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 16122811
AN - SCOPUS:24644472979
VL - 88
SP - 145
EP - 153
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
IS - 2
ER -