In Children and Adolescents Anxiety In Children and Adolescents

About anxiety... Key risk phase for symptoms or development of a disorder in childhood or adolescence. A fight/flight response. A “normal” response to stress or stressful situations. We all feel worried, nervous, or anxious at times.

Definition The brain’s response to danger. A brain response developed in infancy An attempt to avoid perceived danger/threat. Can be adaptive (need to have this response to survive). Becomes maladaptive when it interferes with regular functioning. Developmental issues need to be considered when viewing it as “normal” or pathological. Ex. A child’s fear of thunder and lightning

Assessing Anxiety Need to consider developmental differences in children and adults – child/adolescents cognitive abilities, emotional understandings and language development. Most frequent of the mental disorders in children. Seen 8-10 % of childhood disorders. Most common: Generalized Anxiety also called “overly anxious”, Separation Anxiety, and Phobias. Can co-exist with other disorders or depression.

More about specific anxieties Separation Anxiety: One of the most common of the anxiety disorders. Characteristics: an inappropriate, unrealistic, and excessive distress reaction to separation from major attachment figure (parent) or home. Refusal to go to school a common feature. Fear for safety of caregivers. May be “clingy” or throw tantrums when separation imminent. Characterized by stomach aches, sleep troubles.

Panic Disorders Characterized by unexpected and recurring panic attacks (an intense fear accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms). Physical Symptoms: rapid/shallow breathing, rapid heart beat, sweating, feeling faint, fear of dying.)

Generalized Anxieties An excessive and persistent fear or worry about a number of activities and/or events in child’s life. Ex. Marks in school, family, friends. Symptoms: fatigue, irritability, stomach/intestinal problems, sleep problems, muscle tension. Treatment: CBT, Relaxation Techniques

A few more... Social Anxieties Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Specific Phobias Test Anxiety (?)

Resources www.acnp.org www.nimb.nih.gov Anxiety and Depression Association of America American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry