pediatrics
Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Key Points
Children with generalized anxiety disorder have multiple and diffuse worries, rather than a single, specific one. Diagnose generalized anxiety disorder when symptoms cause significant distress to the child or impair social or academic functioning socially and the child has≥1 specific symptoms (eg, restlessness, a keyed-up or on-edge feeling). Relaxation therapy may help; if children have severe anxiety or do not respond to psychotherapeutic interventions, consider anxiolytic medications (preferably SSRIs). 