Anxiety is a part of daily life. While mild levels of anxiety can be positive, moderate to severe levels can cause intense distress. When anxiety interferes with a person's ability to function, it warrants treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic disabling condition characterized by at least 6 months of frequent worries and three of the following symptoms: fatigue, restlessness, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and unsatisfying sleep. The primary treatment for anxiety is pharmacotherapy. Medication prescribed for anxiety has shifted from exclusive benzodiazepine therapy to a combination of benzodiazepine and antidepressant drugs. The principal disadvantages of benzodiazepines are their long-term use with associated physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.
Children and teens have anxiety in their lives, just as adults do, and they can suffer from anxiety disorders in much the same way. Stressful life events, such as starting school, moving, or the loss of a parent, can trigger the onset of an anxiety disorder, but a specific stressor need not be the precursor to the development of a disorder. Research has shown that if left untreated, children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, to have less developed social skills and to be more vulnerable to substance abuse. (Morris,1999)
While children can develop any of the recognized anxiety disorders, some are more common in childhood than others. Some disorders tend to be specific to age development. Separation Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobias are more common in younger children, about ages 6-9 years old. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are more common in middle childhood and adolescence.
Panic Disorder can occur in adolescence as well. As with adults, depression has a high rate of comorbidity in children, especially among teenagers.....
