Psychotherapeutic Treatment Approaches of Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly

Abstract

Anxiety disorders among older adults are fairly common but often go undiagnosed and under treated. Unfortunately, untreated anxiety leads to hastened aging, including increased risk for cardiac morbidity and cognitive impairments. First-line treatments for anxiety disorders are typically pharmacological measures, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and benzodiazepines. However, many patients may not accept medications or may experience debilitating side effects. Additionally, anxiety symptoms may not be entirely addressed by medications alone. All of this points to the need for non-pharmacological treatments. When treating anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become the gold standard psychotherapeutic intervention. However, sometimes CBT alone is insufficient in treating anxiety. New innovative approaches, such as mindfulness therapy (MT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), have been developed to augment CBT and have proven to be beneficial in small studies. Additionally, the skills learned in these novel treatment modalities can continue to be used by older adults in managing anxiety long after the treatment sessions have ended.