Full Range Of Anxiety Disorders - Anxiety In Children And Teenagers: Mental Health

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Full range of anxiety disorders

Some anxiety disorders start in childhood or affect only children. The prime example is separation anxiety, an extreme difficulty being away from home or loved ones. It's the most common anxiety disorder in preadolescent and younger children, affecting 4%–5% of them.

In addition, all the anxiety disorders that affect adults can also affect children. Some disorders begin in childhood. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder usually starts around ages 6–15 in boys, although for females, it usually begins in early adulthood. Social phobia also tends to start early.

Children often differ from adults in the particular focus of their anxieties. Adults with generalized anxiety disorder, for example, usually worry about a variety of ordinary things, such as household finances, family members' health, and responsibilities at home or at work. Children with the disorder worry mainly about their performance in school or sports, even when their competence isn't being evaluated.

Anxiety disorders that most commonly appear in children include these:

Separation anxiety disorder. Many infants and toddlers cry when their parents leave for work or go out for the evening, but children with separation anxiety disorder fear that their parents will be harmed if they go out. They also have nightmares about separation and become extremely agitated at the thought of being away from home (see "Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder"). Although children may eventually "outgrow" separation anxiety disorder, they have a greater risk of developing a significant anxiety disorder as teenagers and adults.

Generalized anxiety disorder. Children with this disorder are self-conscious, self-doubting, and excessively concerned about meeting other people's expectations. They need constant reassurance and approval from adults. They may worry about school grades or refuse to go to school at all (see "School refusal"). Other sources of anxiety may revolve around storms, burglary, hurting themselves while playing, or the amount of gasoline in the car's gas tank. They often feel restless and tense and complain of headaches, stomachaches, and other physical symptoms.

Social phobia. Children with this disorder are painfully shy and fear exposure to anything unfamiliar. They cling to their parents and may be afraid of other children as well as adult strangers at an age when such fear is no longer normal. They may be afraid of reading aloud, starting a conversation, or attending a birthday party. Some children with social phobia may refuse to talk in situations where talking is expected, a symptom known as "selective mutism." Examples include a classroom or a doctor's office.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder. As with adults, childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder consists of intrusive unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause mounting tension that is sometimes relieved by repetitive actions (compulsions). The obsessions often involve a fear, such as contracting a disease or the death of a parent. While adults with the disorder are usually aware that their symptoms are irrational and strange, even though they can't stop them, children lack this perspective and don't question the validity of their fears or the compulsive rituals they follow to cope with these thoughts.

Panic disorder/panic attacks. As with adults, children may experience a sudden feeling of overwhelming dread or impending doom accompanied by intense physical sensations, such as sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain, trembling, breathlessness, dizziness, and nausea.

Simple phobia. Fear of certain specific objects or situations is common, normal, and usually temporary in young children. Treatment is warranted only if fears are excessive and unreasonable, persist for a long time, or occur at an inappropriate age. Some common objects of childhood phobias are thunderstorms, water, elevators, choking, blood, large animals, and insects.

Post-traumatic stress disorder. In children, post-traumatic stress disorder commonly stems from severe child abuse; it may also be triggered by a major accident or a natural disaster. Symptoms may include intrusive memories, nightmares, a tendency to reenact the traumatic event in compulsive play, irritability, angry outbursts, jumpiness, insomnia, and poor concentration.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008