title: Children and adolescents who stutter: Further investigation of anxiety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the greatly increased risk of social anxiety disorder in adults who stutter, there is no clear indication of the time of onset of this disorder in childhood and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to explore this issue further using the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), so that appropriate interventions can be developed prior to adulthood. This is the first time the RCMAS has been completed by children younger than 11 years. Using the same test for both school-age children and adolescents can potentially identify when anxiety starts to develop from age 6 years through to adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RCMAS was administered to 18 school-age boys, five school-age girls, 41 adolescent boys and nine adolescent girls who were seeking treatment for their stuttering. Participants also rated the severity of their own stuttering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All mean scaled scores on the four RCMAS subscales and Total Anxiety scores were within normal limits. However, for both groups of boys, scores on the Lie Scale were significantly higher than scores on the other three subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experts suggest high scores on the RCMAS Lie Scale are indicative of participants attempting to present themselves in a positive light and so cast doubt on the veracity of their other responses on the test. One interpretation, then, is that the boys were concealing true levels of anxiety about their stuttering. The results suggest why findings of anxiety studies in children and adolescents to date are equivocal. Clinical implications are discussed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The reader will be able to: (a) discuss why understanding when anxiety starts in people who stutter is important, (b) describe the function of the RCMAS Lie sub scale and (c) summarize the possible implications of the RCMAS findings in this study.
authors: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: Michelle.Messenger@facs.nsw.gov.au.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Messenger
authors: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: ann.packman@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Packman
authors: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: mark.onslow@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Onslow
authors: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: ross.menzies@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Menzies
authors: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: sue.obrian@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: O'Brian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013342:Stuttering / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Adolescents; Anxiety; Children; Stuttering