Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is worry, apprehension or concern about something unknown in the future. It is
often a normal, healthy reaction to life experiences. However, these worries can become
excessive causing physical symptoms, school problems, and at times may interfere with
functioning.
Some common signs of anxiety in childhood and adolescence include:
- feeling nervous
- feeling frightened for no reason
- difficulty concentrating or the mind going blank
- irritability, tension, sleep problems, and nightmares
- worrying excessively
- feeling scared at times of separation
- shyness
Course of Treatment
Following a brief screening to determine eligibility to participate, parents will be
interviewed and children will receive a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Treatment
with medications is recognized as being beneficial in the treatment of adults with
anxiety. Although medications are now widely used in children and adolescents, we would
like to know the benefits of these medications in the treatment of anxious children ages 7
to 18 years.
Persons consenting will enter a study in which the child, parent, and research
clinician is unaware if the medication they are receiving is an approved medication or
placebo (inactive substance). For a period of 12 weeks the child or adolescent will be
seen twice per month to monitor for symptoms of anxiety and side effects. Treatment
provided during the course of the study is free of charge.
Qualifications of Investigators
Boris Birmaher, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Duncan Clark, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry
James Perel, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology
For more information or referral please contact Catherine Kalas, RN and
Kelly Monk, RN, tel: 624-1238
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