Anxiety and depression: Implications for older adults

By the year 2030, it is projected that one in every three Americans will be 55-years-old or older: This age group is by far the fastest growing segment of the population. With the growing number of older adults, the importance of understanding aging and common disorders of later life is essential. In particular; anxiety and depression are among the most common problems in older adults. However differentiating anxiety and depression at the mood, symptom, and syndromal levels has been a long-standing problem in psychopathology research. In addition to a growing need for research, clinicians will also need to take an active role in the development and implementation of treatment as the population of older adults increases. In particular mental health service providers must become informed about the economic implications for older adults as the structure of health insurance continues to change.