A Review of the Treatments of Anxiety Disorders Within the Adolescent Population

Name: Jessica Kamen
Major: Neuroscience
Advisor: Dr. Sharon Lynn
Mental disorders can affect anyone from children to adolescents. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) has different categories for mental disorders. Within these categories, there are specific disorders that are considered anxiety disorders, which include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Unfortunately, not much is known about the prevalence of these anxiety disorders, especially within adolescents aged 11-17. The aim of this paper is to discuss and review the treatment available for anxiety disorders, particularly in adolescents aged 11-17. Many different treatment options exists, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Alone both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are effective in reducing the symptoms from anxiety disorders, but there is sufficient evidence that shows that combining these therapies works superior to any one alone. Future research needs to focus more on the comparison of different psychotherapies, especially the non-traditional ones, and more on the combining effect of both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Jessica will be online to field comments on April 16:
2-4pm EDT (PST: 11am-1pm, Africa/Europe: evening)

Posted in I.S. Symposium 2021, Independent Study on April 10, 2021.