title: Selective mutism and anxiety: a review of the current conceptualization of the disorder.
abstract: Selective mutism (SM) is a rare and interesting condition that has been associated with a wide variety of childhood psychiatric conditions. Historically viewed as more of an oddity than a distinct diagnostic entity, early conceptualizations of the condition were based largely on case studies that tended to link SM with oppositional behavior. More recently, controlled studies have enhanced our understanding of SM. This review summarizes the current conceptualization of SM, highlighting evidence supporting the notion that SM is an anxiety-related condition.
authors.affiliation: The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, Psychology, USA; duPont Hospital for Children, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009155:Mutism / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology