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Chapter 12 - Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety in Later Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2021

By
Gerard J. Byrne
Edited by
Gerard J. Byrne  and
Nancy A. Pachana
Gerard J. Byrne
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Nancy A. Pachana
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
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Summary

Although behavioural and psychological interventions are considered first-line treatments for anxiety disorders in older people (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2014), psychotropic medications are also widely prescribed (Hollingworth & Siskind, 2010). Drugs from a range of psychotropic classes have been used to treat anxiety disorders, including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics (Reinhold et al., 2011). While there is clinical trial evidence for the short-term efficacy of drugs from each of these classes, particularly for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), there is scant evidence for long-term effectiveness. Psychotropic drugs exhibit a wide range of adverse effects, including some that pose particular hazards in later life.

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Anxiety in Older People
Clinical and Research Perspectives
 , pp. 189 - 204
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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