Long-Term Outcomes in Children with Anxiety Disorders

Not quite half of participants in a randomized study were in remission 6 years later, and original treatment assignment was not predictive of the outcome.

Children with anxiety disorders (social phobia, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety) showed good acute response to treatment in a randomized, placebo-controlled study (sertraline + cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT], 81%; CBT, 60%; sertraline, 55%; pill placebo, 24%; NEJM JW Psychiatry Oct 30 2008). To learn about long-term outcomes, researchers conducted a follow-up study with in-person or telephone interviews of children and parents at a mean of 6 years after randomization. Remission was defined as lack of any of the three study diagnoses.

The 288 participants at follow-up (mean age, 17) included 59% of the original sample and were significantly more likely than nonparticipants to be female and have higher socioeconomic status and less…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Long-Term Outcomes in Children with Anxiety Disorders

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Reviewing Author