CBT, Some Meds Found Effective for Anxiety in Kids, but Many Remain Symptomatic

While treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) alone appears to reduce anxiety symptoms in youth with childhood anxiety disorders, a combination of CBT and medication may be best, according to areport published inJAMA Pediatrics.The meta-analysis involving more than 7,000 patients highlighted how different treatments fared on different measures and compared with other treatments.Zhen Wang, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic searched six large medical databases for studies comparing CBT, pharmacotherapy, or a combination to treat children and adolescents for a range of anxiety disorders.A total of 115 studies with 7,719 patients with diagnoses of separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, or panic disorder were included in the analyses. The medication trials included SSRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, or paroxetine), SNRIs (atomoxetine, duloxetine, or venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants (clomipramine or imipramine), and benzodiazepine (clonazepam).These were among the major findings:SSRIs significantly reduced primary anxiety symptoms and increased remission and response. SNRIs significantly reduced clinician-reported primary anxiety symptoms. Benzodiazepines and tricyclics were not found to significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.When CBT was compared with wait-listing/no treatme...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: anxiety in children CBT JAMA Pediatrics medication SNRIs SSRIs Source Type: research