Review article

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Mihajela Poljak ; Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation
Dražen Begić ; Department of Psychiatry, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental disorders when it comes to children and adolescents.
The core feature of these disorders is a level of anxiety and fears that is not appropriate for that stage of
development of a child which leads to anxiety disorders having a significant impact on disrupting daily
activities of a child. It is important to monitor children’s fears within the context of their development.
Estimations show that approximately 10 to 20 % of all children develop some kind of anxiety disorders.
They are present in children of both sexes, although some anxiety disorders have been shown to be more
frequent in girls. Anxiety disorders can be diagnosed after the age of six. Early discovery and proper
treatment can significantly help with the possible negative effects these disorders have on social and family
life as well as on a child’s performance in school. Anxiety disorders are conditions comorbid with other
psychiatric disorders and other anxiety disorders. Anxiety is manifested in the form of bodily, psychological,
cognitive and behavioural changes. When it comes to etiology, a variety of factors are present, with the
causes of anxiety disorders still not fully known, but both psychiatric and general medical factors are
involved. Clinical studies, as well as every-day practice, have shown that utilization of cognitive-behavioural
therapy (CBT) combined with prescription medication yields the most effective results. Cognitive therapy
bases its approach on identifying and replacing negative thinking patterns and behaviours with positive ones, while behavioural techniques aim to change behavioural patterns in children with anxiety disorders.
Nowadays, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is also used to treat anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first choice when it comes to medication therapy as they have been repeatedly
to be the most effective treatment choice for anxiety disorders. When diagnosed early and using proper
treatment, anxiety disorders can be reduced to a minimum as not to cause any damage to the child’s life.
It is crucial for the success of the treatment for parents or guardians to be heavily involved in all stages of
treatment of the disorder, from planning to practicing techniques proposed by the physician.

Keywords

anxiety; anxiety disorders; fears; children and adolescents; mindfulness

Hrčak ID:

174630

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/174630

Publication date:

5.12.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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