Diagnosis And Treatment In Children - Anxiety In Children And Teenagers: Mental Health

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Diagnosis and treatment in children

Diagnosing these disorders in children can be difficult because fear and anxiety are also symptoms of many other conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Parents are not always sensitive to children's signs of anxiety; teachers often give helpful perspective because they have experience with many children for comparison. Before diagnosing an anxiety disorder, it is important to find out first whether the child has good reasons to be afraid, such as abuse by a relative or a classroom bully.

Cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the best confirmed treatment for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Its effectiveness has been shown in studies lasting as long as four years. A common method is graduated exposure to frightening objects or situations, with rewards for success in facing fears. Young children with phobias, for example, can be placed near the feared object and allowed to do something reassuring and enjoyable like eating or playing with a favorite toy. Older children can be shown how to use deep breathing or muscle relaxation, or be taught to talk themselves out of self-defeating and fear-provoking thoughts. Another technique is modeling — asking the anxious child to emulate the therapist or another child who shows no fear.

Cognitive and behavioral methods often work best in groups, which provide shy and fearful children with opportunities for making friends, increasing self-confidence, and trying out new kinds of behavior.

Drug therapy. With the exception of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for obsessive-compulsive disorder, the FDA has not approved any drugs for childhood anxiety disorders. But because some SSRIs have been found effective and are approved for the treatment of adult anxiety disorders, many pediatricians and psychiatrists also prescribe these antidepressants for anxious children.

Parents and other family members can help by learning techniques for managing a child's anxiety, providing models of self-confidence and problem-solving, and giving rewards for overcoming fears. Sometimes a family problem is the source of the child's anxiety, or an anxious child thinks he or she is the cause of any trouble in the family. In that case, joint family therapy, in which all members participate, may be a good idea.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008