Dear Readers: I attended a Conference in Miami last week by the Florida International University, Center for Children and Families. A general review of all Childhood Mental Health Disorders was presented with focus on "Evidence-Based Interventions" was given. What does this mean? It means that in psychology and in psychiatry there are actually some treatment protocols that are shown to result in better results than other treatments. You certainly go to physicians that use the most modern and scientifically proven treatments and procedures to treat you physically. Similar research has been developed in psychology as well. So, whenever you look for psychological services, make sure that the person treating you and/or your child is up to date with research in the area that they will treat you or your family member. The Conference given by the Faculty from F.I.U, and by other presenters and researchers also provided a two-day intense seminar in one area of child mental health problem. I attended the Workshop on Anxiety Disorders given by Dr. Wendy Silverman who has been conducting research in this area for many years. I would like to summarize just a few points from Dr. Silverman's workshop that are so important for parents, professionals, and for people suffering from anxiety: 

1. Anxiety Disorders of childhood and adolescence are one of the most prevalent problems, with a prevalence of possibly 9.7 % in the population. It happens in all cultures, backgrounds, family constellation, ethnicity, and in boys and girls.

2. There are different kinds of anxiety disorders. It is important to work with a professional who knows how to assess and to diagnose anxiety disorders in children.  If a child is not treated effectively for this condition early on, this condition can be a "gateway" to other conditions. What does this mean? It means that if untreated (or not appropriately treated), anxiety disorders in children can lead to other disorders that are more impairing and more chronic, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depressive disorder, and substance use disorder later on (Carter, Silverman et. al, 2008).

3. There is a very good body of research on anxiety disorders, and what treatments work best with these conditions. If your child has an anxiety disorder, make sure that you seek treatment with a professional who knows how to provide Cognitive Behavior Therapy (or Behavior Cognitive Therapy) which is the treatment that is proven to be more likely to provide effective results.

4. Sometimes parents seek medical treatment for the anxiety disorder in their children before they participate in Cognitive-Behavior Treatment. Although this approach may remove the symptoms of anxiety more quickly, medical treatment may interfere with the necessary steps while implementing the cognitive-behavior therapy. However, when a child is very impaired by anxiety, it is important to discuss the benefits of medication treatment as part of the protocol to treating this very paralyzing condition in children's lives.

5. Anxiety Disorders come in many facets, and they don't look the same in all children. The most well known anxiety disorder in children is Separation Anxiety Disorder, but children also experience Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, Panic Disorder, as well as Selective Mutism.

6. Finally, it is well known that anxiety disorders have a great genetic component. Thus, parents become anxious in taking children to treatment for anxiety. It is very important for parents to talk to the child psychologist they work with about their own anxieties and fears of and during treatment.

7. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT WITH DR. JOFFE, OR IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO IS SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY, DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL OUR OFFICE AT 954-341-4441.