by Perlea, Victor ¹, Mayer, Gwendolyn ¹

• ¹ Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

This is the abridged version, for the extended version click here
The introduction and overview can be found here

Disclaimer: We have compiled this information to the best of our knowledge based on current scientific literature (as of May 2026). However, we do not provide diagnosis or treatment recommendations. If you notice any mental health concerns in yourself or in a child or adolescent in your care, please consult a medical doctor.

Diagnostic criteria

Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or anxiety that is disproportionate, persistent, difficult to control, and causes significant distress or impairment. They are differentiated by the specific feared situations and associated thoughts or beliefs. Compared to normal developmental fear, they are more intense, longer lasting, and often persist for 6 months or more, though this criterion is applied flexibly in children (APA, 2013; Ernstmayer et al., 2022; Patel et al., 2016).

Prevention measures

· School-based programs teaching emotional literacy, problem solving, and coping skills, alongside anti-bullying and safe-school policies.
· Early identification and support for anxious children, including psychoeducation for families and brief CBT-informed interventions (Patel et al., 2016).

Risk factors

· Family history of anxiety or mood disorders, behavioural inhibition, and overprotective or critical parenting.
· Stress, bullying, trauma, chronic physical illness, and academic or social pressure (Ernstmayer et al., 2022; Patel et al., 2016).

Treatment approaches

· Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure is first-line for most adolescent anxiety disorders.
· SSRIs may be used for moderate to severe or treatment-resistant cases, ideally combined with CBT and supported by family involvement and school accommodations (Bandelow et al., 2021).

References for this article are here