|
|
 Treating Children's Anxiety
In a recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, children with anxiety disorders showed the most improvement when treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and an antidepressant.
The study involved 488 children ages 7 to 17 with moderate to severe separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia. Many also had other disorders, including other anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and behavior problems. Each child received one of these treatments for 12 weeks:
- a combination of CBT and sertraline (Zoloft)
- 14 sessions of CBT
- sertraline up to 200 mg daily
- a placebo drug.
The study found that although CBT and sertraline each reduced anxiety, combination therapy produced the best results. Specifically, the percentage of children rated much or very much improved were:
- 81% for combination therapy
- 60% for CBT alone
- 55% for sertraline alone
- 24% for placebo.
The study was published online October 30, 2008, in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Home - Guest
Registry - Customer Service
Brought to you by
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
publisher of Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide.
For help on how you should use this site, see our Disclaimer.
© Copyright 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
|
