Anxiety in Later Life

The spectrum of anxiety disorders occurring in later life is diverse and includes the same disorders that occur with younger adults—such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and social anxiety disorder—but also unique presentations, including a fear of falling and the anxiety often seen in various neurocognitive disorders. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment are arguably more challenging in older populations. In addition, many older adults have subthreshold symptoms that can benefit from proper management. This article summarizes the literature on anxiety disorder presentations in later life and offers key recommendations to assist clinicians working with this growing population.