Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Past 10 Years

Transtornos ansiosos na infância e adolescência: aspectos clínicos e neurobiológicos

“…It is estimated that approximately 50% of children with anxiety disorders also have a comorbid anxiety disorder. 2 …”

“…9 Gender distribution is equivalent, except for specific phobia, PTSD and PD, in which there is a female preponderance. 1,2,8,9 SAD and specific phobias are more often diagnosed in children, whereas PD and social phobias are more common in adolescents.…”

“…: pallor, sweating, tachypnea, tachycardia, muscle tension and hyperarousal). 2,16 GAD usually has an insidious onset; parents do not know exactly when it started, they just say it got worse and worse until it became intolerable, and that is when they often seek medical help. 2,16 …”

“…Thus, the more attention this altered behavior (comforting or aggressive answers aimed at controlling the child s anxiety) receives, the more likely this behavior will be endorsed and intensified; on the other hand, keeping calm and diverting attention away from this behavior will make anxiety subside. 2,24 GAD has gained little attention from researchers in pediatric psychopharmacology. Open-label studies have shown significant improvement of symptoms with the use of either fluoxetine or buspirone.…”

“…Differently from adults, children might not recognize their fears as exaggerated or irrational, especially the younger ones. 1,2 Both anxiety and fear are regarded as pathological if they are excessive, disproportionate to the stimulus, or qualitatively different from that observed at this age, and if they interfere with the child s quality of life, emotional comfort or daily performance. 3 Such exaggerated reactions to the anxiogenic stimulus commonly occur in individuals with inherited neurobiological susceptibility.…”