Anxiety in children is not uncommon, but when the anxiety becomes severe enough to require medication, the risks to the child's overall success are greater. Anxiety disorders can become chronic if not treated appropriately, and they will put the child at an increased risk for poor school performance, and an increased risk for substance abuse, reports the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, or ADAA. Effective use of medication to reduce and stop the symptoms of anxiety disorders is important.
Basics
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or the AACAP, treating a child with medication for a mental health illness, such as anxiety, is primarily based on the knowledge and experience of the prescribing physician, as well as findings in the current research. Therefore, physicians incorporate their experience treating childhood anxiety disorder to find the correct medication and dosage level.
Considerations
Childhood anxiety by itself will most likely not be treated with medication. When less intense forms of anxiety are present in children, intervention should take place so the anxiety does not become more severe. Teachers, school counselors, school social workers and parents should intervene to reduce the child's anxiety and help her learn new and effective ways of coping. When a child's anxiety begins to negatively affect her daily functioning and an anxiety disorder is present, medication is often used as part of the treatment plan.
Disorders
There are specific forms of anxiety disorder in children, which are generally treated with medication. These include social phobias, separation anxiety disorder, school phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Medications
According to the ADAA, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the first medications generally prescribed to treat children with anxiety disorders. Some SSRIs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in children, notes the ADAA.
Other medications that are less commonly used with children include tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines, reports the ADAA.
Efficacy
Using medication to treat anxiety disorders in children has been demonstrated to be effective. The ADAA reports that research has demonstrated that when cognitive-behavioral therapy was used in conjunction with antidepressant medication to treat children with anxiety disorders ranging in age from seven to 17, it was more effective at reducing the symptoms than treatment alone.
Length of Treatment
Effectively treating anxiety disorders in children is important to help to reduce the risk of long-life struggles and negative effects from the disorder. Therefore, it is generally recommended that children being treated with medication remain on the medication for at least one year and the child's doctor regularly evaluate the child to determine the effectiveness of the medication and whether it needs to be continued, notes the ADAA.
