Childhood anxiety disorders. Approach to intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To present an approach to intervention in childhood anxiety disorders.


METHODS
This paper is based on selected findings from a MEDLINE search for recent literature on childhood anxiety disorders and on my experience as a child psychiatrist and researcher in a specialized anxiety disorders clinic.


RESULTS
Children with symptoms of high sympathetic arousal; persistent worries or intrusive thoughts; and extreme clinging, avoidance, or repetitive behaviours that interfere with daily functioning should be investigated for anxiety disorders. Counseling parents, relaxation techniques, and incentives for "brave" behaviour can often return children with mild disorders to age-appropriate functioning. Children who are severely impaired or fail to respond to these simple interventions might require medication or referral for cognitive-behavioural therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Family physicians can play an important role in recognizing and intervening early in childhood anxiety disorders.
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont. katharina.manassis@sickkids.ca
Katharina
K
Manassis
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors