Teen Anxiety Disorder: Taking It Seriously
Lots of teens are stressed and anxious a good deal of the time. But sometimes the stress can be a sign of a serious, diagnosable medical problem called an “anxiety disorder,” which requires professional help. In this episode of Keeping Kids Healthy, we explore “social anxiety disorder,” a condition in which teens feel extreme, unreasonable anxiety about being judged harshly by others, or about behaving in a way that might cause them embarrassment. It sounds like the concerns of an ordinary teen. But the level of stress these kids experience is far from ordinary, and it may prevent them from establishing normal relationships with their peers, or living a normal life. Join our host Dr. Winnie King, a family who has lived through the problem, and two experts who will show us how to recognize and help treat anxiety disorder in our children.
Guests:
Mia DeSimone - 15 years old, suffers from anxiety
Christine DeSimone - Mia’s Mom
Frank DeSimone - Mia’s Dad
Anne Marie Albano, PhD, ABPP - Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry and director of the Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center; Board Certified, American Board of Professional Psychology; Fellow, Academy of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology; Founding Fellow, Academy of Cognitive Therapy; Principal Investigator for an NIMH U01 study entitled “Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Treatment Study” (CAMS) and was a PI for the landmark NIMH-sponsored Treatments for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS)
Jami Furr – Mia’s Counselor; PhD Candidate, Child Anxiety Clinic, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; She works as a diagnostician in the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University and has published papers on the treatment of childhood anxiety.
Tips:
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) has put together on their web site, http://www.adaa.org/, a useful list of suggestions (adapted from the article "Choosing a Mental Health Professional for Your Child: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How" by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., from the New York University Child Study Center) about helping children with anxiety disorders. Those suggestions include the following:
Finding Help for Your Child
Taking your child to the doctor for a mental health problem is as important as visiting the doctor for an ear infection or broken arm. But knowing when and where to seek mental health care can be difficult. Here are some these tips for parents to make the process easier.When Is It Time To Seek Help?
Many physical and emotional signs suggest a possible mental health problem. Any problem that is personally bothersome warrants evaluation. Further investigation may be necessary when a child seems out of step with peers, or exhibits changes or problems in any of the following areas:
- Eating/appetite
- Sleeping
- School work
- Activity level
- Mood
- Relationships with family or friends
- Aggressive behavior
- Return to behavior typical of a younger child
- Developmental milestones such as speech and language.
How Do I Find Treatment?
Parents should consider the following checklist of questions to ask and issues to consider when deciding on a professional and a type of treatment.
- Professional's credentials and training: Consider the training of the professional, and inquire as to his/her experience or expertise with the problem. If the professional is licensed in your state, make sure the professional has the appropriate credentials.
- Experience: Select professionals who have experience with children, and expertise with the particular problem of concern.
- Involvement: What role will you, the parent, have in your child's treatment? Make sure you are comfortable and understand how parents are involved.
- Type and format of treatment: How often will your child need to see a professional? What is the length of treatment? Parents and children should understand the scope of the treatment, the procedures used and the frequency and duration of the sessions.
- Cost, insurance policy: Know your health insurance coverage for mental health. Ask about acceptance of insurance when you talk to professionals. It is the parents' responsibility to know their own financial resources and any insurance requirements and limitations.
- Location, ease of accessibility: Treatment must balance convenience with availability of the professional.
How Do You Choose the Right Professional?
It is important to feel comfortable with the treating professional. Having confidence in the person is essential for establishing a positive working relationship. However, if the parents or child feel uncomfortable after a few sessions, this should be discussed in order to assess the source of the problem. Is the difficulty due to embarrassment about discussing the problem? Is the child resistant due to being angry with the parents for suggesting treatment? Or is it incompatible styles between the professional and the client?What Is the Parent's Role in Treatment?
The initial session or two is usually used to evaluate the problem. You may be asked to provide information about family medical history, home environment, the child's physical and emotional development, and friendships. You should expect to discuss the assessment and outline a plan of treatment.
Parents should be informed about the treatment plan. Elements should include:
- Their role in treatment
- The preferred method of communication with the professional
- A schedule for feedback and updates
- Coordination with outside resources or professionals
- Strategies for helping their child participate in treatment
- Alternative treatments, risks and goals.
Successful therapy requires an investment of time and energy. The therapist may act as a guide, instructor, and confidante. The parents and child must also participate and take responsibility for putting the learning into practice. It is important for everyone involved to monitor change and progress.
More information about the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and teens can be found on the ADAA web site at
http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/FocusOn/Children&Adolescents.asp
Resources:
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org/American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org/The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools
For information about the mental health support available to help your children in their schools
http://www.healthinschools.org/
