Generalized anxiety disorder in youth: Diagnostic considerations Article

Benjamin, CL, Beidas, RS, Comer, JS et al. (2011). Generalized anxiety disorder in youth: Diagnostic considerations . Depression and Anxiety, 28(2), 173-182. 10.1002/da.20747

cited authors

  • Benjamin, CL; Beidas, RS; Comer, JS; Puliafico, AC; Kendall, PC

abstract

  • Background: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in youth is characterized by excessive worry across domains for ≥6 months, an inability to stop worrying, and at least one physiological symptom. This study examined the multiple domains that optimally distinguish (1) GAD youth from nonanxiety-disordered youth and (2) GAD youth from other anxiety-disordered youth. Methods: Receiver operating characteristic analyses examined a sample of youth (N=180) aged 7-13 (M=10.10; 52% male), to determine optimal cut scores to distinguish GAD youth from (1) nonanxiety-disordered youth and (2) other anxiety-disordered youth. The diagnostic efficiency of worries and physiological symptoms was also examined. Results: By parent report, three worries and four physiological symptoms had favorable cut scores, and several specific worries possessed high diagnostic efficiency. Children endorsed fewer GAD symptoms. Conclusions: Recommendations are made regarding the criteria for GAD in youth and interview sequencing of symptom queries. Depression and Anxiety, 2011.© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

authors

publication date

  • February 1, 2011

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 173

end page

  • 182

volume

  • 28

issue

  • 2