Abstract
It is now widely accepted that anxiety disorders run in families, and current etiological models have proposed both genetic
and environmental pathways to anxiety development. In this paper, the familial role in the development, treatment, and prevention
of anxiety disorders in children is reviewed. We focus on three anxiety disorders in youth, namely, generalized, separation,
and social anxiety as they often co-occur both at the symptom and disorder level and respond to similar treatments. We begin
by presenting an overview of a broad range of family factors associated with anxiety disorders. Findings from these studies
have informed intervention and prevention strategies that are discussed next. Throughout the paper we shed light on the challenges
that plague this research and look toward the future by proposing directions for much needed study and discussing factors
that may improve clinical practice and outcomes for affected youth and their families.
and environmental pathways to anxiety development. In this paper, the familial role in the development, treatment, and prevention
of anxiety disorders in children is reviewed. We focus on three anxiety disorders in youth, namely, generalized, separation,
and social anxiety as they often co-occur both at the symptom and disorder level and respond to similar treatments. We begin
by presenting an overview of a broad range of family factors associated with anxiety disorders. Findings from these studies
have informed intervention and prevention strategies that are discussed next. Throughout the paper we shed light on the challenges
that plague this research and look toward the future by proposing directions for much needed study and discussing factors
that may improve clinical practice and outcomes for affected youth and their families.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-19
- DOI 10.1007/s10567-011-0109-0
- Authors
- Kelly L. Drake, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway/Suite 206, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Golda S. Ginsburg, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway/Suite 206, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Journal Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
- Online ISSN 1573-2827
- Print ISSN 1096-4037