Showing papers on "Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder published in 1999"

Anxiety in Alzheimer's Disease: Prevalence and Comorbidity

Abstract: Background. Anxiety may be associated with psychiatric morbidity, disability, increased health care utilization, and mortal­ ity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients as it is in the general adult population. However, the phenomenology of anxiety symp­ toms in AD and its relationship to dementia progression, comorbid depression, and the presence of other problematic behaviors have not yet been examined. Method. Data on anxiety symptoms and their coexistence with other factors were obtained in 523 community-dwelling AD patients through interviews with their caregivers and direct physical examination. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their association to patient depression, other behavioral problems, gender, and age was investigated. Results. Anxiety symptoms were common, occurring in 70% of subjects. Anxiety symptoms were significantly correlated with ADL impairment and other behavioral disturbances, including wandering, sexual misconduct, hallucinations, verbal threats, and physical abuse. Comorbidity of anxiety-depression was also prevalent: 54% of the sample had both anxiety and de­ pression symptoms. ADL impairment and problem behaviors were significantly associated with comorbidity; however, the lat­ ter association was explained entirely by the presence of anxiety. Conclusion. Anxiety symptoms were common and significantly related to ADL and additional neuropsychiatric problems in this sample. These results indicate the need for additional research into the phenomenology of anxiety and comorbid anxiety-de­ pression in AD and for the development and investigation of effective assessment and treatment of anxiety in AD clinical practice.

Morbidity in older people with self-reported asthma.

Abstract: Objective: to investigate the differences in physical and psychological morbidity in older people with and without self-reported asthma and whether these are associated with use of more medication and hospital services Design: cross-sectional study of changes in health services for older people Setting: South Wales in 1990 and 1992 Subjects: a population-based random sample of 2818 people aged 65 years and over Main outcome measures: prevalence of self-reported asthma; assessment of disability, anxiety, depression and memory using standardized measures; mobility; use of prescribed medication and hospital services Results: 231 subjects with self-reported asthma were identified The prevalence of asthma was 8%, which was not significantly different between the sexes (P = 088), age groups (P = 006) or social classes (P = 0108) There was a significant relationship between asthma and functional and physical disability (severe disability 29% vs 16%, P < 00001), mobility (housebound 7% vs 4%, P < 005), anxiety (37% vs 20%, P < 00001), depression (19% vs 10%, P < 0001), poor perceived health status (23% vs 9%, P < 00001), number of different medications (seven or more, 13% vs 4%, P < 00001) and inpatient (P < 00001) and outpatient (P < 005) use of hospital services Conclusions: there is excess psychological and physical morbidity and poorer perceived health status in older people with self-reported asthma