Some evidence suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial for treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. While other psychotherapies may be helpful for treatment of childhood anxiety, they have not been evaluated scientifically in the same way as the treatment listed here. The Anxiety Disorders of Association of America, Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents site has specific information about how anxiety disorders appear in children that may be different from adult anxiety. Encopresis is diagnosed in children who are at least 4 years old, although frequently children younger than 4 also cannot control their bowels. Encopresis more commonly affects boys than girls.
Some evidence suggests that behavior modification is beneficial for treatment of encopresis.
While other psychotherapies may be helpful for treatment of encopresis, they have not been evaluated scientifically in the same way as the treatment listed here. The Children's Medical Center at the University of Virginia has an excellent website with more information about normal bowel habits and facts on encopresis. Enuresis is diagnosed in children who are at least 5 years old, although younger children often do have difficulty controlling urination. Behavioral treatment is well-established as a beneficial treatment for enuresis. Behavioral treatment usually involves the use of a urine alarm device and parent education.