Www.pspbc.ca Childhood & Adolescent Anxiety disorders.

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Childhood & Adolescent Anxiety disorders

Fast Facts About Anxiety in Children

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Childhood = toddlerhood to

puberty (2-12 years of age)

Anxiety is ubiquitous, appropriate

in new situations, and in response

to stressors

Normal/expected anxiety vs. anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders affect 8-10% of children

Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood and adolescent years

Anxiety disorders often present with physical symptoms

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Different anxiety disorders throughout life › e.g. Separation anxiety disorder

A common childhood anxiety disorder Can be a precursor for other anxiety disorders and depression in adolescents

and young adults Anxiety disorder can lead to:

› Poor economic, vocational, interpersonal outcomes

› Increased morbidity: comorbid anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and alcohol and drug

abuse) and mortality (suicide) Significant negative impact on family, social and school functioning Chronic anxiety disorder can lead to:

› Poorer physical health outcomes

› Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in mid-life

Fast Facts About Anxiety in Children

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Adolescence = puberty to mid-twenties Anxiety disorders affect 8-10% of young people Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood & adolescence Anxiety disorders are often hereditary Many individuals with anxiety disorders experience

physical symptoms that they present to their health care provider.

An individual can be affected by different anxiety disorders throughout their lifespan.

› Separation anxiety disorder can be a precursor for other anxiety disorders in adolescents and young adults.

› Social Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder = teen onset

Fast Facts About Anxiety in Adolescents

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Effective treatments for most young people with an anxiety disorder can be provided by first contact health providers

Always assess parents for the presence of an anxiety disorder if a diagnosis of anxiety disorder or depression has been made in a child

If a parent has an anxiety disorder or depression, successful treatment of child will include effective treatment for the parent

Fast Facts About Anxiety in Adolescents

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6 Key Steps

I. Identification of children at riskII. Useful methods for screening and diagnosisIII. Treatment templateIV. Suicide assessmentV. Safety/contingency planningVI. Referral flags

Delivery of Effective Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

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Ideal position of first contact health providers

› To identify youth at risk to develop an anxiety disorder.

Screen usual-risk youth at routine vaccination and start of school visits

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I. Identification of Children & Youth At Risk

Anxiety Disorder Identification Table

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A. Educate about riskB. Obtain family historyC. “Clinical review” thresholdD. Standing “mental health check-up”E. Confidentiality, understanding &

informed consent

A Child is Identified At Risk

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Not inevitable, but…

› Even with numerous risk factors, mental health disorder is not inevitable, but may occur.

› The sooner diagnosed and treated the better

› More helpful to check possibility than ignore symptoms Educate Parents

› Educate about potential risks for anxiety in their children

› Create awareness of familial risk for mental disorders Entire family should be made aware Youth awareness at appropriate age.

Educate About Risk

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Part of routine for all patients

› Include: Mental disorders Substance abuse Treatment type Treatment outcome

Helps identify youth at risk

Obtain Family History

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Screen at-risk youth every 6 months

15 minute office/clinical visits every 6 months

Standing “Mental Health Check-up”

Anxiety symptoms worsen:

- During school year

-Before first weeks of school

-Should not cause severe distress or

dysfunction

Anxiety symptoms decrease:

- In summer months

- After first few weeks of school

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Does your child worry more than other children you know? Do you need to reassure your child excessively and about

the same things over and over? Does your child have difficulty separating from you to go to

school or over to a friend’s house? What does your child worry about? Does worry/anxiety ever stop your child from doing

something new or an activity they would enjoy? Does your child get a lot of stomach aches and headaches?

When do they occur? Are there any events/activities/people/places that your child

avoids because of fear or anxiety

Additional Questions for Child Anxiety & OCD

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Describe your child’s sleep routine (where, when, quality, night routine)?

Has your child ever missed school or had to come home from school early due to anxiety?

Has your child ever had an anxiety attack where their heart raced, they couldn’t catch their breath, they felt dizzy or lightheaded and thought they might be dying?

Does your child have ideas or images that come into their mind and they can’t control them?

Does your child have any routines or behaviours they need to do that don’t seem to make sense or be goal directed? (e.g. ask about germs/dirt worries and handwashing/cleaning, also counting and checking rituals)

What would be different for your child and for your family if they didn’t have anxiety/worry?

Additional Questions for Child Anxiety & OCD

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Ask parents, “How does your child compare to other children of similar age regarding such issues as…

› Being away from parent?

› Need for reassurance?

› Comfort with exploring new situations?

› Physical complaints?

If child shows substantially more anxiety type symptoms, assess for presence of anxiety disorder or other mental health problem.

Standing “Mental Health Check-up”: Screening

D. Standing “Mental Health Check-up”

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Standing “Mental Health Check-up”School reports and patterns- Difficulty concentrating- Declining grades- Frequent late arrival- Frequent absences

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Physical complaints

- Stomach aches- Nausea

- Headaches- School

mornings/end of weekend

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Education should include discussion of:

› Risks and benefits of anxiety treatment

› Confidentiality and informed consent to treatment For both child and parents

Explain to parents

› What they might expect their child to feel like

› How the treatment will occur if it is necessary

› Expected outcomes, side-effects and time lines

Education About Anxiety Disorders

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Appropriate/Adaptive Anxiety

› Short duration (< a few weeks)

› Resolves spontaneously, or

› Ameliorated by social supported or

environmental modification

• Anxiety Disorder

› Long duration (usually lasting many

months)

› Significantly interferes with functioning

› Is often out of sync with magnitude of stressor

› Usually require health provider intervention

› Diagnosis made using DSM-V criteria

Differentiating Distress from Disorder

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Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED)

› 41 item anxiety screen and monitoring tool

› Child and youth self report

› Parent report

› Provide family with feedback on test results

› Screen highly anxious youth for depression

› Anxiety disorders increase risk of developing depression; more common to develop in adolescents

› Important risk factor for self harm and suicide

Useful Methods for Screening & Diagnosis

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Psychotherapeutic Support for Teens (PST) Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS)

› A screening tool for depression Teen or Child Functional Assessment (TeFA; CFA)

› Self-report tool (child depending)

› 3 minutes to complete

› Assists in evaluating four functional domains of teen mental health School Home Work Friends

Tool for Assessment of Suicide Risk (TASR-A)

Useful Methods for Screening & Diagnosis

Use of SCARED in Assessment

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Anxiety disorder is suspected:

if score of 25 or higher

Use score items as a guide for further questioning

Scoring information can be found in the toolkit

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SCARED score is 25 or higher

› Discuss issues/problems in child’s life/environment Ask about school, home, activities, friends & family Anxiety disorders interfere with normal development tasks

and functioning

› Offer supportive non-judgmental problem solving assistance

› Encourage general self-care of parent and child Decreases stress Regular, adequate sleep Consistent physical activity Healthy eating Promote positive social activities

Child / Teen Anxiety Disorder is Suspected

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Screen for:

› Depression & Suicide risk Screen for suicide as appropriate “When you feel sad or scared, do you ever think about

not wanting to be alive?” Ask parent to keep a diary

› Record concerns

› Signs and symptoms child expresses How severe, impact of severity and response to problem

Schedule 2nd mental health checkup in 1 – 2 wks

Child Anxiety Disorder is Suspected

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More comprehensive

Include a functional assessment

Review DSM - V criteria

Supportive education and

discussion with parents

› Strategize with parents to deal with

problems related to anxiety

2nd Mental Health Checkup (1 – 2 wks following initial visit)

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Repeat SCARED

› If symptoms persist review DSM-V criteria.

› Make a treatment plan for anxiety disorder

If concerns of depression persist

› Treatment is best applied in a specialty mental health setting or with guidance of child psychiatrist

› If depression suspected, refer to appropriate service, but start treatment for anxiety disorder.

3rd Mental Health Checkup(2 – 3 wks following 2nd visit)

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SCARED score is 25 or higher Discuss issues/problems in the youth’s life/environment. Teen Functional Activities Assessment (TeFA) Supportive, non-judgmental problem solving assistance

– Psychotherapeutic Support for Teens (PST) as a guide

Strongly encourage and prescribe: Exercise Regulated sleep Regulated eating Positive social activities

Teen Anxiety Disorder is Suspected

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 Screen for depression

› Use the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Screen (KADS) Screen for suicide risk

› Use the Tool for Assessment of Suicide Risk (TASR) Mental Health Check-ups

› Second visit one week from visit Can include TeFA and/or PST (15 – 20 mins) If suicide or depression concerns use KADS & TASR-A

› Third visit two weeks later Repeat SCARED and other tools as indicated Make treatment plan as indicated

Teen Anxiety Disorder is Suspected

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If Panic Disorder:

› Complete Panic Attack Diary

› Complete (Difficult Places to Go and Things to Do)DPG:TD Diary

If Social Anxiety Disorder

› Complete (Kutcher Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder Scale for Adolescents) K-GSADS-A

Teen Anxiety Disorder is Suspected

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Use clinical tools to assist with diagnosis

› Integrate details in

assessment interviews 3 – 15 min visits If concern for depression

and/or suicide, screen at each visit.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Onset of anxiety disorder

is not an emergency

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Fear something bad will happen to them or loved one when apart

› Avoid being apart from parent or caregiver

› Significant distress/anxiety when separated or anticipating separation

Criteria for diagnosis:

› School age & have experienced distress for at least 4 weeks

› Physical symptoms: headache, stomach ache, behavioral outbursts, crying, clinging and/or yelling.

› Difficulty with babysitters, sleeping alone, getting to school.

› Child misses out on social opportunities

› Interferes with development of age appropriate independence and academic success.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

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Criteria for diagnosis

› Persist for 6 months

› Significant distress & impairment of functioning

› Avoidant behavior

› Distress and/or panic attacks

Treat or not treat

Specific Phobia

Fear of object or situation

Out of proportion to actual danger

Anxiety response is extreme/unreasonable

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“Master Worriers”

› Excessive, unrealistic and unhelpful distress and worry around everyday events and responsibilities

› Persists for at least 6 months

› Distress mentally and physically Tension, irritability, muscle aches & pains, difficulty

concentrating, tiredness, headache, stomach ache, nausea & lightheadedness, difficulty sleeping, avoidance patterns, seeking excessive reassurance

› Lack of enjoyment and avoidance of daily activities

General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

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Onset

› Junior high or middle school

Symptoms

› Shy or introverted (inaccurate)

› Severe anxiety in social situations

› Avoidance and isolation

› Impacts development of

identity and independence

Risks

› Depression, substance abuse and school drop out

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

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Panic Disorder

Acute symptoms

Panic attacks

Occur ‘out of the blue’ with no warning

Think they are having heart attack,

asthma attack, stroke, seizure

›Anxiety & fear of additional attacks

›Rapid debilitation in daily life

Risks

›Avoidance patterns & agoraphobia

›Depression

›Suicide

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Obsessions

› Distressing intrusive thoughts, urges and/or images

› Common themes – Illness and danger Compulsions

› Repetitive behaviours or rituals performed to relieve distress and anxiety associated with obsessions

› Common themes - cleaning, washing and checking behaviors Causes significant distress

› Take up more than 1 hour each day

› Repetitive images or thoughts (e.g. violent, religious or sexual) Lead to compulsions of praying or counting

› Avoidance behaviors & efforts to suppress obsessive thoughts

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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Two peaks of onset

› Childhood (pre puberty)

› Later Adolescence Obsessions or compulsions are irrational

› Children/youth may not realize this

› Frustration and anger if can’t keep OCD satisfied Most often a gradual onset

› Difficulty concentrating, getting out of the house, getting dressed or decreased food intake

Negative impact on family functioning

› Family members often help out with routines High rates of depression

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Clinical Approach to Possible Child/Adolescent Anxiety Disorder

Visit 1: SCARED FunctionUse PST & MEP as indicated and as time allows

If SCARED is 25 or greater (parent and/or child) or shows decrease in function, review WRP/Stress management strategies and proceed to step 2 in 1-2 weeks.

If SCARED < 25 and/or shows no decrease in function, monitor again (SCARED) in a month. Advise to call if feeling worse or any safety concerns.

Visit 2: SCARED, Function. Use PST & MEP

If SCARED > 25, and shows decrease in function, utilize PST strategies, review WRP and proceed to step 3 within a week.

If SCARED <25 and shows no decrease in function, monitor again in a month. Advise to call if feeling worse or any safety concerns.

Visit 3: SCARED, Function. Use PST & MEP

If SCARED remains > 25 or shows decrease in function, proceed to diagnosis (DSM-V criteria) and treatment

If SCARED <25 and shows no decrease in function, monitor again (SCARED) in one month. Advise to call if feeing worse or any safety concerns.

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Do you worry more than other teens you know? What do you worry about? Does worry/anxiety ever stop you from doing something that you would like to be

able to do? Are there any events/activities/people/places that you avoid because of fear or

anxiety? Describe your sleep routine (where, when, quality, night routine)? Have you ever missed school or had to come home from school early due to anxiety? Have you ever had anxiety where your heart raced, you couldn’t catch your breath,

you felt dizzy or lightheaded and thought you might be dying? Do you get a lot of stomach aches and headaches? Do you have trouble concentrating? Do you have ideas or images that come into your mind and you can’t control them? Do you have any routines or behaviours you need to do to relieve anxiety or

distressful thoughts or images? (e.g. ask about germs/dirt worries and hand washing/cleaning, also counting and checking rituals)

What would be different for you if you didn’t have anxiety/worry?

Additional Questions for Teen Anxiety & OCD

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Specific Factors

› Evidence based treatments: Structured psychotherapies (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy - CBT) Medication

Non-specific Factors

› Activities Decrease stress, improve mood and general well-being

› Supportive psychological interventions PST in toolkit guide

III. Childhood Anxiety Treatment Template

Enroll the Help of Others

Who does the child want to help them?

Family

TeacherSchool Counselor

Coach Neighbor

Babysitter

Support Helps Reduce Stress For Children

Inquire about school performance;

academic supports may be needed

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Essential for information on child’s emotional state and function

Differing opinions between child and parent

› Joint discussion to clarify and appropriately plan

Ensure confidentiality throughout process

Parent/Caretaker Involvement

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First line treatment

› Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Strong evidence based practice with CBT alone Often improves anxiety without medication

› Barriers to CBT Long waiting lists, psychotherapies not available Family cannot access services

› If barriers to CBT Implement medications, wellness enhancing activities

and supportive rapport Monitor outcome regularly: refer if no change or worse

Psychotherapy

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Anxiety BC websitewww.anxietybc.com

Youth anxiety/depression treatment guideline algorithmwww.bcguidelines.ca/gpac/guideline_depressyouth.html#algorithm

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

www.aacap.org

Teen Mental Health www.teenmentalhealth.org

Suggested Websites