All children over the age of 8 should be screened for anxiety, says the US Task Force

Deterioration Children’s mental health A group of influential experts urged that all children ages 8-18 be recommended to be screened for anxiety for the first time. This is one of the most common. Childhood mental health disorders..

Draft of new guidelines, Public comments are accepted, Probably completed later this year. It was published by the United States Preventive Services Task Force on Tuesday, Volunteer expert panel Appointed by a federal agency, it makes recommendations to healthcare providers for clinical preventive care.

Task force, Created in 1984 According to Congress, there are no regulatory agencies. However, their recommendations are important among clinicians.

Screening more children for anxiety is “really important,” said child psychologist Stephen PH Whiteside. He is the director of the Mayo Clinic Pediatric Anxiety Disorder Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and is not a member of the Task Force. “Most children in need of mental health care don’t understand it.”

He added that it may be especially true for those who are anxious.

Children with behavioral problems are likely to be identified as needing help, but if children with anxiety disorders are not causing problems at school or at home, they can easily “slip through the gap”. I can do it.

The pandemic is just going on Exacerbate the problem Children are experiencing.

Why is early detection important?

The US Task Force recommended screening for anxiety, regardless of whether the clinician was involved in any sign or symptom.

Marsakvic, a professor of nursing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a member of the Task Force, said:

According to, childhood anxiety disorders are associated with later depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and an increased risk of substance abuse. Report From the Childmind Institute, a non-profit organization that provides treatment and other services to children and families with mental health and learning disabilities.

The Task Force stated that there is not yet sufficient evidence to recommend or oppose screening children under the age of 8 for anxiety. The Committee of Experts continues to recommend screening for depression in children over the age of 12.

How does screening work?

There are several different surveys and questionnaires that can be used to screen for primary care anxiety, Dr. Kubik said.

Some of these tools target specific anxiety disorders, while others screen for a variety of disorders. Also, the length of each screener varies. “What we found in our review is that these screening tools are effective in picking up anxiety before young people show obvious signs or symptoms,” she said.

Ideally, children should be screened for an annual health check, according to Dr. Kubic, but clinicians should accept screening opportunities at other visits as well.

If the screener indicates that the child needs additional assistance, it is not a diagnosis, but a starting point for a larger conversation for further follow-up that may include referrals to mental health providers. Said the expert.

“Psychotherapy is a front-line treatment,” said Tami D. Benton, a psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry and behavioral science at the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital. She added that medication may be needed if anxiety impairs the child’s normal functioning, or if psychotherapy alone is ineffective.

Find a mental health provider It’s not always a quick or easy task, but experts say screening isn’t that important.

Dr. Carroll Weitzman, co-director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Center, “begins to put pressure on many decision makers and people with drawstrings,” including insurance companies, as more young people need help. Said. She is a spokeswoman for the Boston Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We need to shed light on the mental health needs of children, adolescents and adolescents in this country and advocate better access to mental health care,” she said.

Other organizations have their own process of making recommendations that are separate from the US Task Force recommendations.

Dr. Weizmann said the AAP is developing more tools and resources to support pediatricians in anxiety screening.

What about the risk of suicide?

The Task Force, stressing the need for additional studies, said there was insufficient evidence to recommend automated screening for suicide risk in asymptomatic children and adolescents.

However, AAP recommends regular screening for suicide risk in children over 12 years of age. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 19 years.

“Many children continue to have suicidal ideation. The topic will not be covered unless asked. Therefore, screening all children over the age of 12 will help create a sense of safety net. That’s okay. “To discuss,” said Dr. Weitzman, a pediatrician of developmental behavior.

How common is anxiety among children?

by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Over 7% of children aged 3 to 17 years have been diagnosed with anxiety. But “many children suffering from anxiety are not always diagnosed,” said Dr. Benton. For example, in a nationally representative household survey, 1 in 3 adolescentsOr about 30% meet the criteria for anxiety disorders.

When the study According to an article published in JAMA Pediatrics, between 2016 and 2020, the diagnosis of anxiety and depression in children increased significantly and the mental health of caregivers also declined.

How do you know if your child needs help?

If you are worried that your child may be suffering from anxiety, experts have recommended talking to your child’s pediatrician or other primary care clinician.

According to experts, some anxiety is completely normal and anxiety is Providing benefits By helping us keep us safe and honest. In addition, there may be times in our lives when anxiety grows stronger. They are also normal, and regardless of the situation, some children are more worried than others.

However, persistent anxiety affecting a child’s daily life may indicate anxiety disorders. Experts said they are paying attention to the following signs, especially if they reflect changes from previous behavior.

• Overeating or overeating

• Sleeping more or less than usual

• Poor grades

• Changes in relationships

• Hypersensitivity

• anger

• Sensitivity to criticism

• Loss of interest in activities

• Physical symptoms such as headache and abdominal pain

• Problems with leaving caregivers and resistance to going to school or sleeping alone