Psychosocial and pharmacological treatment for pediatric anxiety disorders

Abstract

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents are highly prevalent and associated with long-term impairment. This article reviews the main diagnostic features of the most common pediatric anxiety disorders, including specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, and highlights the state-of-the-art treatments for these diagnoses. The most recent evidence for empirically supported treatments is described, namely cognitive–behavioral therapy and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. The review concludes by providing practitioners with recommendations for treating pediatric anxiety and highlighting areas for further investigation.

Keywords::

• anxiety disorders
• children
• cognitive–behavioral therapy
• fluoxetine
• fluvoxamine
• paroxetine
• sertraline