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Objectives Assessing late-life anxiety using an instrument with sound psychometric properties including cross-cultural invariance is essential for cross-national aging research and clinical assessment. To date, no cross-national research studies have examined the psychometric properties of the frequently used Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) in depth. Method Using data from 3,731 older adults from 10 national samples (Australia, Brazil, Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, Thailand, and United States), this study used bifactor modeling to analyze the dimensionality of the GAI. We evaluated the “fitness” of individual items based on the explained common variance for each item across all nations. In addition, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was applied, testing for measurement invariance across the samples. Results Across samples, the presence of a strong G factor provides support that a general factor is of primary importance, rather than subfactors. That is, the data support a primarily unidimensional representation of the GAI, still acknowledging the presence of multidimensional factors. A GAI score in one of the countries would be directly comparable to a GAI score in any of the other countries tested, perhaps with the exception of Singapore. Discussion Although several items demonstrated relatively weak common variance with the general factor, the unidimensional structure remained strong even with these items retained. Thus, it is recommended that the GAI be administered using all items.

Background.The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) is a widely used self-report measure of anxiety symptoms in older adults. Much research has been conducted on the psychometric properties of the GAI in various populations and using different language versions. Previous reviews of this literature have examined only a small proportion of studies in light of the body of research currently available and have not evaluated the methodological quality of this research. We conducted a systematic review of the psychometric properties of the GAI.Method.Relevant studies (N = 30) were retrieved through a search of electronic databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar) and a hand search. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent reviewers using the ‘‘COnsensusbased Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments’’ (COSMIN) checklist.Results.Based on the COSMIN checklist, internal consistency and test reliability were mostly rated as poorly assessed (62.1% and 70% of studies, respectively) and quality of studies examining structural validity was mostly fair (60% of studies). The GAI showed adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Convergent validity indices were highest with measures of generalized anxiety and lowest with instruments that include somatic symptoms. A substantial overlap with measures of depression was reported. While there was no consensus on the factorial structure of the GAI, several studies found it to be unidimensional.Conclusions.The GAI presents satisfactory psychometric properties. However, future efforts should aim to achieve a higher degree of methodological quality.

Cette etude compare les profils sociodemographiques et cliniques de joueurs pathologiques en traitement dans un centre public de readaptation en dependance selon qu’ils presentent ou non un trouble lie a l’utilisation d’une substance (TUS) au moment de leur entree en traitement. Les evaluations d’admission des joueurs requerant un traitement dans un centre public de readaptation en dependance ont ete utilisees. Les joueurs ( N = 322) ont ete repartis en deux groupes mutuellement exclusifs, soit le groupe Jeu sans TUS ( n = 190) et le groupe Jeu avec TUS ( n = 132). Il etait attendu que les profils sociodemographiques des deux groupes de joueurs pathologiques differeraient et que le groupe Jeu avec TUS presenterait un profil clinique plus severe que le groupe Jeu sans TUS . Les analyses indiquent que le groupe Jeu avec TUS presente des besoins d’intervention plus importants sur les plans professionnel, judiciaire, psychologique et relationnel, en plus de se distinguer sur le plan sociodemographique. Toutefois, le groupe Jeu sans TUS presente quant a lui des besoins d’intervention plus importants concernant les habitudes de jeux de hasard et d’argent (JHA). Les auteurs discutent des implications de ces differences dans les profils cliniques, en considerant les cibles d’intervention a prioriser. This study compared the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of pathological gamblers in treatment at a public dependence rehabilitation centre. The gamblers ( N = 322) were divided into two mutually exclusive groups based on their entry assessments, which evaluated if they presented with a concurrent substance abuse disorder (SAD) at the onset of treatment. The groups were as follows, Gambling without SAD ( n = 190) and Gambling with SAD ( n = 132). It was expected that the sociodemographic profiles of the two groups of pathological gamblers would differ, with the Gambling with SAD group presenting a more severe clinical profile than the Gambling without SAD group. Analyses indicate that the Gambling with SAD group has a greater need for professional, legal, psychological and relational intervention, as well as differences on the sociodemographic level. However, the Gambling without SAD group has a greater need for intervention concerning their gambling and gaming habits,. The implication of these differences in the clinical profiles is discussed in relation to the intervention targets to prioritize.

This study examined and compared the acceptability of three treatments for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), guided self-help based on cognitive-behavioral principles (CBT-GSH), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Participants (N = 88; M age = 74.2 years, SD = 6.9) evaluated the acceptability of each treatment for the fictional case of a 70-year-old woman presenting mild to moderate or severe GAD. Results showed that CBT was more acceptable than SSRIs. Participants who indicated that they do not know what causes an anxiety disorder rated treatments as less acceptable. Also, the more participants considered the duration of treatment as an element influencing their choice of treatment for anxiety, the more they considered such treatment acceptable.

The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) and a short form of this instrument (GAI-SF) were developed to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms in older adults in order to compensate for the lack of validated screening tools adapted to the elderly population. This study examined the psychometric properties of the French Canadian version of the GAI, in its complete (GAI-FC) and short form (GAI-FC-SF).A total of 331 community-dwelling seniors between 65 and 92 years old participated in this study.Both the GAI-FC and the GAI-FC-SF have sound psychometric properties with, respectively, a high internal consistency (α = .94 and .83), an adequate convergent validity (r = .50 to .86 with instruments known to evaluate constructs similar to the GAI or related to anxiety), a good test-retest reliability (r = .89 and .85), in addition to a single-factor structure.The results support the use of both the GAI-FC and the GAI-FC-SF. The GAI-FC-SF seems to be an interesting alternative to the GAI-FC as a screening tool when time available for assessment is limited.

Selon les dernières études de prévalence, plus de 160 000 Québécois et Québécoises souffrent de problèmes de jeu de hasard et d’argent, ce qui représente près de 2 % de la population de la province. Cette problématique touche en général deux hommes pour une femme et il semblerait que l’étiologie et les profils de difficultés soient différents selon le sexe de la personne atteinte. Certaines études rapportent que ces différences engendreraient la nécessité d’offrir des interventions différentes selon que les joueurs problématiques sont de sexe féminin ou masculin. Mais, est-ce vraiment le cas ? Les différences présentes selon le sexe sont-elles réellement synonymes d’un besoin d’intervention différent ? La présente étude tente de répondre à cette interrogation en dressant d’abord les profils sociodémographiques et de difficultés de joueurs problématiques en fonction de leur sexe. L’étude compare ensuite l’estimation du besoin d’intervention à ces sphères selon que l’usager est de sexe féminin ou masculin. Pour ce faire, les évaluations d’entrée du Centre de réadaptation en dépendance de Québec (Indice de gravité d’une toxicomanie ; IGT) de 190 joueurs problématiques adultes, 125 hommes et 65 femmes, sont analysées. Les analyses statistiques démontrent des différences significatives entre les sexes quant aux profils sociodémographiques, aux habitudes de jeu de hasard et d’argent et à l’état psychologique. Cependant, aucune différence significative n’est observée entre les besoins d’intervention estimés par les évaluateurs et ceux estimés par les usagers sur ces différentes sphères. Ces résultats suggèrent donc que les usagers témoignent de besoins d’intervention semblables aux différentes sphères de vie évaluées par l’IGT, et ce, malgré des profils sociodémographiques et des profils de difficultés différents selon leur sexe., According to the latest prevalence study, more than 160 000 Quebecers suffer from a gambling problem, which represents about 2% of the Quebec population. These problems usually affect two men for every woman and it seems that, according to the gender, the etiology and the patterns of difficulties differ. Studies report that these differences create the need for different interventions depending on whether problem gamblers are men or women. But, is that a fact? Do these gender differences actually suggest a need for different intervention to solve gambling issues? This study attempts to answer this question at first by establishing the demographic profile and the pattern of difficulties according to the gender of problem gamblers. Secondly, the study compares the intervention need on different areas of life depending on the gambler’s gender. In order to achieve this, the evaluation used at admission (Indice de gravité d’une toxicomanie; IGT) with 190 problem gamblers (125 men and 65 women) who seek treatment at the Centre de réadaptation en dépendance de Quebec is analyzed. Statistical analyzes show significant differences between gender concerning the sociodemographic profiles, gambling habits and psychological state. However, when the intervention need is compared, no significant differences are found. These results suggest that whether problem gamblers are men or women, they demonstrate similar need of intervention in the different areas of life evaluated, even if they show sociodemographic differences or differences in their patterns of difficulties., Según los últimos estudios de prevalencia, más de 160.000 quebequenses presentan problemas de juego de azar y de dinero, lo que representa alrededor del 2% de la población de la provincia. Esta problemática afecta en general a dos hombres por cada mujer y parecería que la etiología y los perfiles de dificultades son diferentes según el sexo de la persona que la padece. Ciertos estudios informan que estas diferencias indicarían la necesidad de ofrecer intervenciones diferentes según que los jugadores problemáticos sean de sexo femenino o masculino. ¿Pero, es realmente el caso? ¿Las diferencias que existen según el sexo son realmente sinónimo de una necesidad de intervención diferente? Este estudio trata de responder a este interrogante estableciendo, en primer lugar, los perfiles sociodemográficos y de dificultades de los jugadores problemáticos en función del sexo. Se compara a continuación la estimación de la necesidad de intervención en estas esferas según que el usuario sea de sexo femenino o masculino. Para ello, se analizan las evaluaciones de ingreso al Centre de réadaptation en dépendance de Québec(Indice de gravité d’une toxicomanie) [Centro de Readaptación en Dependencia de Quebec (Índice de gravedad de una toxicomanía)] de 190 jugadores adultos, 125 hombres y 65 mujeres. Los análisis estadísticos demuestran que hay diferencias significativas entre los sexos en cuanto a los perfiles sociodemográficos, a los hábitos de juegos de azar y de dinero y al estado psicológico. Sin embargo, no se observó ninguna diferencia significativa entre las necesidades de intervención estimadas por los evaluadores y las que fueron estimadas por los usuarios en estas diferentes esferas. Estos resultados sugieren entonces que los usuarios manifiestan necesidades de intervención semejantes en las diferentes esferas de vida evaluadas por el Índice de gravedad de una toxicomanía, a pesar de presentar perfiles sociodemográficos y de dificultades diferentes según el sexo.