Relationship between anxiety and quality of life in older mental health patients.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of anxiety on quality of life (QOL) in older people with mental disorders.

Methods: Forty patients from a district Older Persons Mental Health Service were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-5).They then completed the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF),Geriatric Anxiety Inventory and Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results: Self-reported anxiety was significantly associated with reduced overall QOL on the WHOQOL-BREF.Anxiety was also associated with the psychological, social and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, but not with the physical health domain. Anxiety was correlated with more individual domains of QOL than depression.

Conclusions: Anxiety makes a significant contribution to self-rated QOL in older people with serious mental disorders.