childhood anxiety disorder
Last reviewed 01/2018
Childhood anxiety disorder is diagnosed in abnormally anxious children - children who cling to their parents, are over-dependent, are timid, and have poor concentration. There may be physical symptoms.
The anxiety may be based on a fear of separation, which may be as a result of some unpleasant event at an early separation, or it may simply be a result of extreme over- anxiousness.
Over-anxious disordered children are worriers about any normally stressful situation.
In treatment the aetiology should be carefully examined, and perhaps stressing factors modified. Anxiolytics may be used but only for short periods. Behavioural techniques may be useful in situational anxiety.