When children and teens are treated for anxiety disorders, they usually do so with medication, not counseling, according to research results released Wednesday. Pediatrics.
In fact, there was an inverse relationship between the need for treatment and the treatment received over 10 years. The number of young people with anxiety disorders has continued to rise since 2006, and the number of children receiving psychotherapy has declined.
“This really demonstrates the increasing burden of treating mental health conditions for patients,” said study author and senior at the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Researcher Laura Chavez said.
“Even if you have access to the health care system and are able to see a doctor in the office, you may not get the care you need,” she said.
There could be several reasons, including stigma and a lack of access to pediatric therapists, according to. Childmind Institute.
Chavez and his team examined data representing 46.4 million pediatric visits from 2006 to 2018. They categorized these visits by time from 2006 to 2009, 2010 to 2013, and 2014 to 2018.
The term “office visit” includes pediatrician’s offices, family health care providers, and various ambulatory care facilities.
Such visits for anxiety disorders tripled from 1.4% in the first period studied to 4.2% in the last period.
This finding is consistent with multiple other studies showing dramatic increases in mental health among young people.
Overall, about 5.8 million children were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2019, according to the report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that children as young as 8 be screened for anxiety disorders. The new report will end in 2018, but more children may be prescribed drugs due to increased screening tests.
But despite the growing need for treatment, Chavez’s research shows that, at least, treatment is not meeting that need.
The proportion of consultations for anxiety, including treatment, decreased from 48.8% during the first study period to 32.6% during the final study period.
However, the proportion of anxiety medications prescribed during these visits remained constant over time, around 60%.
This means that an increasing number of children are being prescribed drugs without medical treatment.
It’s a real problem, says Janine Dominguez, a psychologist at the Child Mind Institute’s Center for Anxiety Disorders.
“The reason we don’t recommend drug therapy alone, especially for children and adolescents, is that we know the skills gained through therapy are an important added value,” she said.
She said the lessons learned through therapy help young people find ways to deal with and overcome anxiety.
“We want to see children not only suffering from anxiety symptoms, but also going to school, having friends and being active,” Dominguez said. .
Children’s Anxiety Symptoms:
According to the CDC, signs of anxiety disorders in children include:
- Great fear of separation from parents and usual caregivers.
- Excessive worry that something bad will happen in the future.
- An extreme fear of certain things or situations, such as dogs, spiders, or going to school.
These fears are not only felt physically, but can also manifest as symptoms such as trouble sleeping, headaches, abdominal pain, rapid heart rate, dizziness, shivering and sweating.
Learn more about teen mental health issues
But Chavez said the availability of mental health services is declining in many areas, so the study could provide additional guidance to pediatricians and other doctors caring for children in need. He said it highlighted the need for help.
“We need to really think about how we can give clinicians the tools they need to better care for their patients,” she says. “We don’t want these patients to miss another chance to get the care they need.”
