Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

This article reviews the current screening and assessment tools for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, as well as evidence-based treatment interventions for these disorders. The following anxiety disorders are discussed: separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and selective mutism. There are several well-studied screening and assessment tools to identify childhood anxiety disorders early and differentiate the various anxiety disorders. Evaluations of baseline somatic symptoms, severity, and impairment ratings of the anxiety disorders, and collecting ratings from several sources is clinically helpful in assessment and treatment follow-up. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been extensively studied and has shown good efficacy in treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. A combination of CBT and medication may be required for moderate to severely impairing anxiety disorders and may improve functioning better than either intervention alone. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are currently the only medications that have consistently shown efficacy in treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Despite proven efficacy, the availability of CBT in the community is limited. Current research is focusing on early identification of anxiety disorders in community settings, increasing the availability of evidence-based interventions, and modification of interventions for specific populations.

Social Anxiety and Phobia in Adolescents

“…In the studies examined in this chapter, the most common adverse events (AEs) were gastrointestinal symptoms, namely, abdominal discomfort and nausea. Other common, usually mild and transient, side effects of SSRIs include headaches, motor restlessness, and insomnia (Connolly et al 2011 ). Less common AEs are disinhibition and behavioral activation.…”

Pediatric anxiety disorders: from neuroscience to evidence-based clinical practice

“…160 Besides the SSRIs and venlafaxine, three studies about the use of imipramine among patients with anxiety disorders have demonstrated its effectiveness in non-OCD disorders. 161 However, TADs are considered secondary choices due to their less favorable adverse effects and the fact that they require continuous monitoring of blood and cardiac irregularities. 158 There is no evidence supporting the use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders.…”

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the DSM-5 Separation Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale–child form

“…One needs to focus on the onset and development of anxiety symptoms, the severity of symptoms, effects of symptoms on functioning, and stressors related to symptoms during the interview [5]. Although the most commonly used method for evaluation is a clinical interview, some self-report scales to aid in the assessment of the clinical picture, such as the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and SCARED, have been presented in the literature [2].…”