Anxiety disorders in the elderly. An update on diagnosis and treatment.

Anxiety is a symptom complex with a differential diagnosis that has become increasingly specific in recent years. Elderly patients often present to their primary care physician with symptoms of anxiety rather than seek a mental health professional. Because presentation may be somewhat different in elderly patients than in young adults, careful consideration of the differential diagnosis is important to ensure the most effective treatment. Pharmacotherapy, behavioral therapy, and traditional psychotherapy are useful for these disorders.