Untangling Anxiety: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Older Adults-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Brandon Yarns, an assistant professor at UCLA and geriatric psychiatrist, presented on anxiety disorders in older adults. The session covered the public health impact, diagnosis, and treatment options for these conditions. Anxiety disorders are prevalent in older adults and can significantly affect their quality of life, often co-occurring with depression, chronic medical conditions, and cognitive impairments. Dr. Yarns reviewed both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options, noting that while medications often produce larger effects, due attention should be paid to potential side effects and drug interactions in older adults. He recommended SSRIs and SNRIs as first-line treatments and advised caution with benzodiazepines due to their risk profile. The lecture also highlighted the need for more research on anxiety treatment in older populations and emphasized the potential role of anxiety in exacerbating medical conditions and cognitive decline. Finally, he discussed the importance of environmental modifications and non-medication approaches for managing anxiety in patients with dementia.

Keywords

anxiety disorders

older adults

geriatric psychiatry

treatment options

SSRIs

SNRIs

cognitive impairments

non-pharmacologic treatments

public health impact