Overview of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

[Lizzy Liz]

Anxiety disorders are characterized by fear, worry, or dread that greatly impairs the ability to function and is out of proportion to the circumstances.

There are many types of anxiety disorders, distinguished by the main focus of the fear or worry.
Most commonly, children refuse to go to school, often using physical symptoms, such as a stomachache, as the reason.
Doctors usually base the diagnosis on symptoms but sometimes do tests to rule out disorders that could cause the physical symptoms often caused by anxiety.
Behavioral therapy is often sufficient, but if anxiety is severe, drugs may be needed.

(See also Overview of Anxiety Disorders in adults.)
All children feel some anxiety sometimes. For example, 3- and 4-year-olds are often afraid of the dark or monsters. Older children and adolescents often become anxious when giving a book report in front of their classmates. Such fears and anxieties are not signs of a disorder. However, if children become so anxious that they cannot function or become greatly distressed, they may have an anxiety disorder. At some point during childhood, about 10 to 15% of children experience an anxiety disorder.
People can inherit a tendency to be anxious. Anxious parents tend to have anxious children.
Anxiety disorders include

Generalized anxiety disorder
Agoraphobia
Panic disorder
Separation anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder