The signs and symptoms of Anxiety disorder include excessive anxiety and worry, which are present for at least six months. In addition, the anxiety or worry occurs with three or more of the following symptoms for at least six months: Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge; Easy fatigue; Difficulty in concentrating or mind going blank; Muscle tension; Irritability; Sleep disturbance (Ströhle et al., 2018). Excessive anxiety and worry contribute to significant distress or cause impairment in a child’s social and school life. However, anxiety is not associated with any physical cause.
Antidepressant drugs are the pharmacological agents of choice in treating anxiety disorder. The newer antidepressant agents are mostly preferred due to their safer adverse effect profile and ease of use. The antidepressant agents used as first-line drugs in treating anxiety disorder include Lexapro, Paxil, Cymbalta, and venlafaxine (Garakani et al., 2020). Benzodiazepines are used in treating anxiety disorder, including diazepam, clonazepam, and Ativan. They are indicated when an immediate alleviation of anxiety symptoms is needed, or a short-term treatment is required (Garakani et al., 2020). However, Benzodiazepines have a concern for misuse and dependence. Therefore, adolescents with a history of drug abuse or alcoholism are not ideal candidates for Benzodiazepine treatment.
Psychotherapy is a type of non-pharmacological treatment used to manage anxiety disorder. It is used alone or in combination with pharmacological treatment. The combination therapy results in greater results for most persons compared to either single treatment approach (Ströhle et al., 2018). The psychotherapies used in anxiety disorder include Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy and Relaxation techniques (Iani et al., 2019). Relaxation techniques are essential in helping the child/ adolescent control their anxiety levels.
Community resources available for children and adolescents with anxiety disorder include organizations such as: Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Anxiety and Depression in Children; the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Child Mind Institute. Blogs and online communities where you can learn more about child anxiety include: Parenting Anxious Kids, Anxiety-Free Child Blog, and Turn around Anxiety Blog. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorder are referred to a psychiatrist to begin long-term therapy and offer follow-up planning.
A child/adolescent with anxiety disorder experiences difficulty controlling worry and anxiety. It manifests with constant, excessive, and unrealistic worry about day-to-day things. Drugs used in treatment include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Psychotherapy approaches include cognitive and behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques. Resources to obtain more information include online organizations and blogs.
Garakani, A., Murrough, J. W., Freire, R. C., Thom, R. P., Larkin, K., Buono, F. D., & Iosifescu, D. V. (2020). Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options. Frontiers in psychiatry, 1412. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
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