High anxiety in children.
Although reliable biological markers of dysfunctional childhood anxiety disorders are lacking, such disorders can be recognized by their symptoms. In separation anxiety and avoidance disorders, anxiety is limited to certain settings; in overanxious disorder, anxiety is generalized. Treatment for childhood anxiety disorders has included behavioral and pharmacologic intervention alone or in combination, but evidence of the efficacy of medical treatment is sparse. Some antidepressants and benzodiazepines have undergone limited studies. Clonazepam has been chosen for further study because in adults it reduced panic attacks and produced few serious side effects. In extensive studies of clonazepam for childhood seizure disorders, side effects were reported, but later reports indicate that many side effects were due to rapid induction and large doses. Transient drowsiness, lethargy, irritability, or excitability have been reported in various epilepsy studies. Clonazepam's minimal potential for drug interactions is another feature recommending it for extended trials in childhood anxiety disorders, and such a double-blind crossover study is underway.
Graae
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Department of Child Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
D002998:Clonazepam; D003975:Diazepam