title: Pharmacologic treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
abstract: Pediatric anxiety disorders are common illnesses that, if left untreated, may induce academic, family, and interpersonal problems. Cognitive-behavioral techniques and other psychotherapeutic interventions may be adequate for the treatment of most anxiety disorders. For patients with severe symptoms or for whom psychotherapeutic approaches are not adequate, medications are indicated. Among the available medications, the SSRIs are currently the first choice; however, other medications, such as the benzodiazepines and the TCAs, may be used alone or sometimes in combination with the SSRIs. Caution with respect to medication interactions and side effects is indicated. In particular, long-term side effects in these medications have not been well studied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Birmaher
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Yelovich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Renaud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002648:Child; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors