children s health issues
Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Introduction
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 their primary focus on fear, worry, or dread. 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 produce the physical symptoms often caused by anxiety. Behavioral therapy is often sufficient, but if anxiety is severe, medications 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. Studies show that about 3% of 6-year-olds, 5% of adolescent boys, and 10% of adolescent girls have anxiety disorders. Children with an anxiety disorder are at increased risk of Depression and Mood Dysregulation Disorder in Children and Adolescents , People can inherit a tendency to be anxious. Anxious parents tend to have anxious children. Anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children None Agoraphobia in Children and Adolescents None Panic Disorder in Children and Adolescents None Separation Anxiety Disorder None Social Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents None During the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety symptoms in young people doubled, especially in girls. Mental health visits for anxiety also increased. After controlling for gender, age, and pre-COVID anxiety symptoms, the following were found to be significant predictors of COVID-19 anxiety symptoms in children: Poor connectedness to caregiver Sleep problems High amounts of screen time 