Symptoms improved in 76 percent of those randomly assigned to take the medication, compared with 29 percent in the placebo group. The study appears this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 13 percent of children and adolescents during any given six-month period, making them the most common class of psychiatric disorders in that age group. However, the disorders often go unrecognized and most go untreated. Common signs of anxiety disorders in children include excessive worrying about ordinary activities, such as going to school or summer camp, taking a test or performing in sports.
Physical symptoms can include palpitations, sweating, trembling, stomachache or headache.
Avoidance of certain situations perceived by the child as sources of anxiety also can occur, and social withdrawal can result. These disorders are properly recognized through a careful evaluation that includes direct examination of the child, a parent interview and a collection of past history. Anxiety disorders cause significant suffering and functional impairment in affected children. Some suffer from these disorders into adulthood. Early treatment may help prevent future mental health problems, including suicide attempts.