Assessment of childhood anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety disorders among children are quite common with prevalence rates estimated at up to 20%. Although somewhat neglected in the past, recent empirical studies have increased our understanding of childhood anxiety significantly. Along with the development of empirically supported treatments, the assessment of anxiety among youth has been refined, with more sophisticated and methodologically sound measures developed and revised within the last decade. In addition, the field has benefited from an increased awareness of the importance of systematic and standardized assessment procedures for both diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in children. The primary aims of this article are to review several important considerations particular to the assessment of child anxiety, and to describe and review the most commonly used procedures and instruments for the assessment of anxiety in children.