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In elderly individuals, phobias have been associated with greater cardiovascular risk and mortality. In a partially industry-funded study, investigators analyzed data from a large French epidemiological survey involving 1968 nondemented, community-dwelling individuals older than 65 to ascertain incidence of agoraphobia, one of the most disabling anxiety disorders and usually associated with panic.
At baseline, 1-month prevalence of agoraphobia was 10% (mean age: agoraphobia cases, 72; noncases, 73), with a lifetime prevalence of 18%. Almost 11% of cases reported onset to have occurred after age 65. Agoraphobia was significantly associated with trait anxiety, depressive symptoms, histories of major depression, and mobility limitations, but no…