Gretchen J Diefenbach1, Laura B Bragdon2, Karen Blank3. 1. Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: gdiefen@harthosp.org. 2. Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. 3. Memory Disorders Center, The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT; University of Connecticut Health Science Center, Farmington, CT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The factor structure and clinical correlates of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory were determined within a sample of patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected within an outpatient Memory Disorders Center. Clinical participants were diagnosed with either mild dementia (N = 45) or cognitive impairment, no dementia (N = 55). A comparison group of participants without subjective memory complaints (N = 50) was also included. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was administered and scored as both the 20-item version and 5-item short form. Measures of cognitive status, depressive symptoms, and functioning were also completed. RESULTS: Clinical participants reported more severe anxiety than did participants in the comparison group; however, the two patient groups did not differ. Principal components analysis revealed a four-factor structure of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. Item endorsement on factors characterized by excessive worry and difficulty making decisions were associated with a nearly twofold (odds ratio [OR]: 1.86) and nearly sixfold (OR: 5.70) odds of having cognitive impairment, respectively. The short-form version was composed of a single factor, and item endorsement was associated with a twofold increased odds of having cognitive impairment (OR: 2.02). CONCLUSION: Psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory are acceptable among patients with cognitive impairment. Anxiety symptoms were common, and symptoms characterized by excessive worry and difficulty making decisions demonstrated the strongest associations with cognitive status.
OBJECTIVES: The factor structure and clinical correlates of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory were determined within a sample of patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected within an outpatientMemory Disorders Center. Clinical participants were diagnosed with either mild dementia (N = 45) or cognitive impairment, no dementia (N = 55). A comparison group of participants without subjective memory complaints (N = 50) was also included. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was administered and scored as both the 20-item version and 5-item short form. Measures of cognitive status, depressive symptoms, and functioning were also completed. RESULTS: Clinical participants reported more severe anxiety than did participants in the comparison group; however, the two patient groups did not differ. Principal components analysis revealed a four-factor structure of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. Item endorsement on factors characterized by excessive worry and difficulty making decisions were associated with a nearly twofold (odds ratio [OR]: 1.86) and nearly sixfold (OR: 5.70) odds of having cognitive impairment, respectively. The short-form version was composed of a single factor, and item endorsement was associated with a twofold increased odds of having cognitive impairment (OR: 2.02). CONCLUSION: Psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory are acceptable among patients with cognitive impairment. Anxiety symptoms were common, and symptoms characterized by excessive worry and difficulty making decisions demonstrated the strongest associations with cognitive status.
Authors: Helge Molde; Inger Hilde Nordhus; Torbjørn Torsheim; Knut Engedal; Anette Bakkane Bendixen; Gerard J Byrne; María Márquez-González; Andres Losada; Lei Feng; Elisabeth Kuan Tai Ow; Kullaya Pisitsungkagarn; Nattasuda Taephant; Somboon Jarukasemthawee; Alexandra Champagne; Philippe Landreville; Patrick Gosselin; Oscar Ribeiro; Gretchen J Diefenbach; Karen Blank; Sherry A Beaudreau; Jerson Laks; Narahyana Bom de Araújo; Rochele Paz Fonseca; Renata Kochhann; Analuiza Camozzato; Rob H S van den Brink; Mario Fluiter; Paul Naarding; Loeki P R M Pelzers; Astrid Lugtenburg; Richard C Oude Voshaar; Nancy A Pachana Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-08-13 Impact factor: 4.077