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Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents

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Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of pediatric generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Youth with GAD worry excessively, are unable to control their worry, and experience significant distress and impairment as a result. Previously referred to as overanxious disorder, GAD is common and highly comorbid with other anxiety disorders. The etiology of GAD is multi-determined encompassing biological and environmental influences. If left untreated, the disorder can be chronic and predictive of adulthood anxiety and depression. GAD-specific assessment tools are now available, including those that target unique cognitive aspects of the disorder. Evidence-based treatments for pediatric GAD involve cognitive and behavioral (CBT) and pharmacological interventions. Recent psychosocial interventions have tailored CBT to specifically target worry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Golda S. Ginsburg

  2. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Nicholas W. Affrunti

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  1. Golda S. Ginsburg
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  2. Nicholas W. Affrunti
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Correspondence to Golda S. Ginsburg .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Education and Training, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, 21211, Maryland, USA

    Roma A. Vasa

  2. Fordham University, East Fordham Road 441, Bronx, 10458, New York, USA

    Amy Krain Roy

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Ginsburg, G.S., Affrunti, N.W. (2013). Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents. In: Vasa, R., Roy, A. (eds) Pediatric Anxiety Disorders. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6599-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6599-7_4

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