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Guidelines for treating the 15% to 20% of children with anxiety disorders recommend a number of approaches. But the comparative effectiveness of the various therapies has not been established.
To address this issue, investigators performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 115 studies involving 7719 children and adolescents (mean age 9.2 years; range 5–16; 56% female) with confirmed anxiety disorders, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobias, and panic disorder. Of these patients, 40% had comorbid disorders.
Results were as follows:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were significantly more effective than placebo pills to increase remission and reduce primary anxiety symptoms, by parent and clinician r…