Psychopharmacologic treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
Over the last decade, psychopharmacologic treatments for pediatric anxiety disorders have been developed and increasingly subjected to randomized, controlled trials. The authors summarize the data concerning the use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical anxiolytics, and benzodiazepines. The extant data suggest that SSRIs--both as monotherapy and when combined with psychotherapy--are effective in the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders. In addition, some TCAs and SNRIs are effective. However, randomized controlled trials do not suggest efficacy for benzodiazepines or the atypical anxiolytic, buspirone, for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA. strawnjr@uc.edu
Jeffrey R
JR
Strawn
Dara J
DJ
Sakolsky
Moira A
MA
Rynn
D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors