NAPNAP's Developmental-Behavioral & Mental Health SIG
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Characterized by...
  • Excessive worry
  • Unrealistic, uncontrollable fear in multiple domains, often where child feels over-responsibility
  • Physical symptoms: headaches, abdominal pain, sleeplessness, fatigue
  • Difficult focus/concentration, inattention, irritability
  • Little to no risk-taking behaviors (takes small steps and/or feels paralyzed by tasks)
  • Constant need for reassurance
  • Perfectionism
  • Disabling fear of making mistakes and criticism
  • School difficulties, test failure/breakdown
  • "Contagion by association" -- any negative piece of news that happens to others, fears will happen to them (i.e. divorce, illness, car accidents, food poisoning, etc.)
  • Hypervigiliance
Differential: 
  • Depression or dysthymia
  • Social anxiety disorder and other anxiety subtypes
  • PTSD
  • OCD
  • ADHD
  • Substance-induced anxiety disorder
  • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
  • Hypochondriasis
  • Trichotillomania
  • Somaticizing
  • Hypo/hyperthyroidism
  • Anorexia nervosa

Anxiety Assessment & Screening


Screening tools:
  • Preschool Anxiety Scale (adapted from Spence)
  • Spence Children's Anxiety Scale
  • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - CHILD form (free) / auto-scoring version
  • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - PARENT form (free) / auto-scoring version
  • GAD-7 (pre-teen through adult)

Treatment Models

Psychotherapeutic:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Exposure therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy
Intolerance of uncertainty therapy
Motivational interviewing
Pharmacological:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
Anti-anxiety drugs: Buspirone (long-term) or benzodiazepines (fast-acting)

Articles

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents (James, et al, 2015)

Resources

  • EffectiveChildTherapy.com (resources and education for parents and professionals)​

Organizations

For Professionals:
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Resilience Project
  • National Institute of Mental Health: specifically Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program
  • ABCT (Association for Behavioral and Cognitive therapies)​
  • Academy of Cognitive Therapy
  • National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists
For Patients/Caregivers:
  • Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)
  • Freedom From Fear
  • Worry Wise Kids
  • Coping Cat Parents
  • The Mighty page on Anxiety
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DISCLAIMER: NAPNAP's DBMH SIG site is for informational and educational purposes only. All informational materials and guides on this site are offered "as is" and are NOT a substitute for medical advice, diagnostic analysis, or treatment planning by a licensed provider. Please note that the information found on this site is not a comprehensive review of any condition, drug, or body system; do not use it to replace clinical decision making. By accessing this resource, you agree that neither NAPNAP nor its SIG group editors will be legally held responsible for any clinical, professional or personal actions taken as a result of using this site.
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