ABSTRACT
This review summarizes the developmental epidemiology of childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders. It discusses the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sex differences, longitudinal course, and stability of anxiety disorders in addition to recurrence and remission. The trajectory of anxiety disorders-whether homotypic (ie, the same anxiety disorder persists over time) or heterotypic (ie, an anxiety disorder shifts to a different diagnosis over time) is discussed with regard to social, generalized, and separation anxiety disorders as well as specific phobia, and panic disorder. Finally, strategies for early recognition, prevention, and treatment of disorders are discussed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Panic Disorder , Phobic Disorders , Adolescent , Humans , Female , Male , Child , COVID-19/epidemiology , Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/epidemiology , Phobic Disorders/therapy , Panic Disorder/diagnosis , Panic Disorder/epidemiology , Anxiety, Separation/diagnosisABSTRACT
This review summarizes risk factors for developing anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. A surfeit of risk factors, including temperament, family environment (eg, parenting style), environmental exposures (eg, particulate matter), and cognitive factors (eg, threat bias), increases the risk of anxiety in children. These risk factors can significantly impact the trajectory of pediatric anxiety disorders. The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on anxiety disorders in children is discussed in addition to its public health implications. Identifying risk factors for pediatric anxiety disorders creates a scaffold for the development of prevention strategies and for reducing anxiety-related disability.