Anxiety in Childhood: Treatment

[Page 273]Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in children and adolescents and can result in significant impairment across multiple domains of functioning. Left untreated, anxiety disorders often persist into adulthood and lead to further functional impairment. Because many adults with anxiety disorders report onset in childhood, early intervention and treatment is particularly important.

A number of treatments for childhood anxiety disorders have been evaluated for efficacy. Clinicians should carefully consider the applications of these techniques for each individual child to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment strategy. Although different treatments may be effective for different children, the focus here is on those treatments with the greatest evidence for efficacy, particularly those identified in the clinical practice guidelines established by the American Academy of ...