Characterizing non-OCD anxiety disorders in psychiatrically referred children and adolescents

Background: To characterize childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders in a psychiatric clinic. Methods: Subjects were 1375 youth referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology program at a major academic center from 1991-2002. DSM-III-R diagnoses were obtained by Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children. Results: Of 1375 referred youth, 794 had at least one non-obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder, and 581 psychiatric comparison subjects had at least one disruptive behavior disorder and no anxiety disorders. There were 367 (46%) youth with one anxiety disorder, 224 (28%) with two disorders. Most prevalent were separation anxiety (49%), and overanxious disorder (47%). Mean ages of onset ranged from simple phobia (4.1) to panic disorder (8.5). Risk analyses revealed anxiety disorders significantly increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Conclusions: The full complement of anxiety disorders occurs in youth.