ANXIETY DISORDERS

Did you know that: 

  • Anxiety Disorders are the most common "mental illness" in the U.S. and in any one year, about 16% of the adult U.S. population (ages 18-54) is affected by an anxiety disorder.
  • Unlike conditions like Tourette's and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, women are more likely than men to suffer from an anxiety condition.
  • Anxiety conditions are associated with increased rates of substance abuse and depression.
  • While many children will simply "outgrow" non-reality-based fears, a significant percentage of adults with anxiety disorders first had symptoms in childhood, suggesting that early treatment might prevent problems in adulthood.
  • When anxieties are not reality-based (such as shyness or social phobia), supportive environments might be sufficient to help the child overcome anxiety, but if the anxiety is due to trauma, a supportive environment alone may not be enough.
  • Phobias are the most common psychiatric illness in women of all ages and the second most common psychiatric illness in men over the age of 25.
  • Evidence-based Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) when combined with medication is more effective than medication alone in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

For a review of the use of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy in treating anixety disorders in children, see "Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents." (James et al., 2005)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Anxiety Disorders (PDF File)
NIMH, 2002

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (PDF File)
NIMH, 2000

Panic Disorder (PDF File)
NIMH, 2000

Social Phobia  (Social Anxiety Disorder) (PDF File)
NIMH, 2000

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PDF File)
NIMH, 2000

Helping Children Cope with Anxiety about War and Terrorism
Some on-site articles by other authors plus links to resources for parents and teachers

Some Famous People with Anxiety Disorders
Just for inspiration

For Your Reference Shelf
Books on anxiety disorders of special interest to parents.

Links
Links to other web sites with information on anxiety disorders.

ANXIETY DISORDERS - POINTS OF INTEREST

This section is the most recent addition to this site, and is first being developed. Additional articles on dealing with school-related anxiety problems such as school avoidance and panic attacks in school are covered in the Education section. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety condition, but is treated as a separate topic on this web site.

Tourette Syndrome "Plus" © Copyright 1998 - 2006 Leslie E. Packer, PhD. except as noted.
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This page last updated February 4, 2006. Reprint Policy. Privacy Policy. Contact.