title: Characterizing non-OCD anxiety disorders in psychiatrically referred children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To characterize childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders in a psychiatric clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 1375 youth referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology program at a major academic center from 1991-2002. DSM-III-R diagnoses were obtained by Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1375 referred youth, 794 had at least one non-obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder, and 581 psychiatric comparison subjects had at least one disruptive behavior disorder and no anxiety disorders. There were 367 (46%) youth with one anxiety disorder, 224 (28%) with two disorders. Most prevalent were separation anxiety (49%), and overanxious disorder (47%). Mean ages of onset ranged from simple phobia (4.1) to panic disorder (8.5). Risk analyses revealed anxiety disorders significantly increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The full complement of anxiety disorders occurs in youth.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Boston, MA 02138, United States. phammerness@partners.org
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammerness
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harpold
authors.forename: Carter
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menard
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zar-Kessler
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*