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The pharmacological management of childhood anxiety disorders: a review

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Abstract

Rationale

Pediatric anxiety is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that may have important implications for school, social, and academic function. Psychopharmacological approaches to the treatment of pediatric anxiety have expanded over the past 20 years and increasing empirical evidence helps guide current clinical practice.

Objective

To review studies which examine the pharmacological treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders, including obsessive–compulsive disorder and to summarize treatment implications.

Methods

All relevant studies were searched using MEDLINE and PsycINFO search engines, supplemented by a manual bibliographical search; studies published between 1985 and 2006 that met inclusion criteria were examined.

Results

This article provides a systematic review of the psychopharmacological treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders based on available empirical evidence, with a focus on randomized controlled trials. General treatment principles and pharmacological management of specific pediatric anxiety disorders are also reviewed.

Conclusion

There is good evidence to support the efficacy of several pharmacological agents including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat pediatric anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder, although there are still many unanswered questions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., CMSC 312, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Shauna P. Reinblatt

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., CMSC 346, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Mark A. Riddle

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  1. Shauna P. Reinblatt
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  2. Mark A. Riddle
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Correspondence to Shauna P. Reinblatt.

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Reinblatt, S.P., Riddle, M.A. The pharmacological management of childhood anxiety disorders: a review. Psychopharmacology 191, 67–86 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0644-4

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