Abnormal reactions to environmental stress in elderly persons with anxiety disorders: Evidence from a population study of diurnal cortisol changes

Cortisol levels increased in elderly subjects with anxiety disorders during stress, indicating dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

• Elderly individuals without psychiatric disorders exhibited a sustained increase in cortisol several hours after stress exposure.
• Subjects with anxiety disorders showed a greater immediate cortisol response to stress and diminished capacity to recover.
• The increase in cortisol secretion was influenced by the level of anxiety co-morbidity.
• Elderly individuals reporting lifetime trauma with intrusive memories had lower continuous basal cortisol levels and better recuperation capacity.
• Women demonstrated a higher reactivity to stressful situations, regardless of psychiatric status.

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