Pharmacologic treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents can be considered a silent epidemic. Their prevalence in this population has been reported to range between 6% and 18%. The pharmacologic treatment of these disorders is reviewed in this article. Studies regarding the use of tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, buspirone, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and clinical considerations for the use of these medications are discussed. SSRIs seem to be the most efficacious and safe agents for the pharmacologic treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders. This article emphasizes the need for additional studies.