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Phobic Disorders in the Elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

James Lindesay
James Lindesay*
Affiliation:
UMDS (Guy's Campus), London SE1 9RT; Project Manager, Research and Development for Psychiatry, London SE1 1LB
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Abstract

Sixty confirmed cases of phobic disorder identified in an urban elderly community sample were compared with 60 controls matched pairwise for age and sex. Cases reported higher rates of specific and non-specific neurotic symptoms, and all were assigned to a diagnostic catego class, compared with seven of the controls. A past history of chronic psychiatric disorder other than phobia was commoner in the cases. Most cases had more than one fear; agoraphobic main fears were predominantly of late onset and associated with moderate to severe social impairment, whereas specific main fears were associated with early onset and minimal social impairment. The onset of agoraphobic fears in old age was attributed by most cases to an episode of physical illness or other traumatic event. Increased rates of palpitations, dyspnoea, giddiness and tinnitus not attributable to anxiety were identified in the cases. Cases did not differ from the controls in socio-economic status, or in the number or quality of current intimate confiding relationships, but they reported higher rates than controls of parental loss before the age of 18 years. Cases reported higher rates of contact with general practitioners, but only one was in contact with psychiatric services at the time of interview. Cases also reported receiving more help in personal care from family members.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 4 , October 1991 , pp. 531 - 541
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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