Sensitivity and specificity of the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire for detecting generalized anxiety disorder in the old age

Abstract

This work aimed to test, through the analysis of the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curves, the ability of the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire (WAQ) to identify the presence of generalized anxi-ety disorder (GAD) in older adults. Sample was composed by 239 subjects between 65 and 90 years old (Mean = 73,4; SD = 5,6). The presence de GAD (n = 7) was established with a structured inter-view. A cut score of 38 (equal or higher) maximized both sensitivity (100 %) and specificity (91,1 %) for identifying GAD. Results of this work provide additional support to the validity and reliability of WAQ with older adults, given that it presents high sensitivity and specificity to identify the presence of GAD. This allows suggest the usefulness of this scale and its cut-score according to the ROC curve like instruments for the identification and screening of GAD in the late life.