Anxiety and Panic Disorders in Older Adults Sharon

Abstract

Despite the growing numbers of older adults in the home health care system, those who suffer from anxiety disorders often are not detected or effectively treated. Untreated anxiety disorders reduce the patient's quality of life, activities of daily living, and compliance with treatment. In worse cases, the patient may decide that life is not worth living and may contemplate suicide. Untreated anxiety accounts for costly visits for medical care (3.5 million visits in 1995) and unnecessary visits for emergency care when the patient mistakes anxiety for a heart attack. Careful assessment by the nurse is the key to detection and evaluation of anxiety disorders among older adults receiving home care. This article presents a case study to illustrate evaluation, identification of risk factors, diagnosis, and management of panic disorder.