The diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders in older adults is made all the more difficult because the stigma of mental illness makes it hard for elders to talk about them.
And it’s not helped along by the fact that, until recently, Anxiety Disorders in older adults was little-studied and were treated with dismissal and veiled ageism. However, research is accelerating in the treatment of older adults, and there are some very effective therapies becoming available.
Still, diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders in older adults is difficult at best, because it takes a great deal of sensitivity and experience to ask the right questions. Family and friends are very important in the diagnosis, since they can see the changes in moods, behavior, and habits that a physician cannot see.
This post is the second in a two-part series on the Anxiety Disorders in older adults. Yesterday’s post addressed how many older adults have Anxiety Disorder, how it is strongly linked with depression, and the risk factors. This post covers the following topics:
- Why are Anxiety Disorders so hard to diagnose in older adults?
- Overview of treatment of Anxiety Disorders in older adults
- Medications for Anxiety Disorders in older adults
- Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in older adults
- Asking the right questions to diagnose Anxiety
- Worried about an aging parent or loved one?
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