Pediatric Panic Disorder Treatment & Management

Consultation with a child psychologist, psychiatrist, or behavioral-developmental pediatrician is important for the evaluation and treatment of panic disorder.

Support for the use of individual and family-based cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches for childhood anxiety disorders has been demonstrated in randomized, controlled trials.^{[11, 12, 13, 14]}

Current guidelines recommend that the clinician and family form an active alliance in the treatment of children with panic disorder.^[8]

Outpatient psychotherapy may be required for a few weeks to a year or longer.

Go to Pediatric Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for complete information on these topics.

Behavioral techniques often discussed in association with the treatment of panic disorder include deep breathing and relaxation, development of a systematic desensitization program, prolonged and carefully monitored exposure to negatively perceived stimuli, adaptive modeling, and contingency management. These techniques seek to change the way the child acts and reduce avoidance and the subjective experience of anxiety.^[15]

Complementary cognitive techniques include developing a fear hierarchy, learning to identify and monitor feelings and bodily sensations, making accurate interpretations of situations and bodily sensations, and improving problem-solving skills.

Treatment may include developing a coping regimen and practicing using this regimen in the office and/or in vivo.

The importance of parental involvement in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders has received attention, and such involvement is a necessary component to ensure success. The family-based component in the treatment of panic disorder can include contingency management, improved communication and problem-solving skills at the family level, and encouragement of effective coping through modeling.

The Coping Cat workbook is a cognitive behavioral therapy program for children that focuses on the identification feelings and somatic symptoms, the restructuring of negative thoughts into "coping self-talk," relaxation, problem solving, and self-monitoring. Acute cognitive behavioral therapy for children with panic disorder is typically provided over 12-16 sessions, with maintenance.

Avoid or limit caffeine.

Children and adolescents with this disorder may need help learning to interpret physical reactions in response to exercise as normal and not a sign of an imminent panic attack.

A consistent, stable, supportive home environment with parenting practices that promote self-confidence, self-esteem, and effective coping skills are important preventive measures.

Minimize psychosocial stressors or traumatic events when possible and provide rapid psychological intervention.

Parents and other significant people in the child's life should model adaptive problem-solving and coping skills.

Follow-up care during medical treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI; eg, fluoxetine) includes monitoring pulse and paying particular attention to symptoms of hepatic dysfunction, seizures, and movement disorder.

Anorexia, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and headache tend to be possible transient adverse effects of SSRIs. Rashes may not be reported until they already have passed and tend to be coincidental with viral illness; thus, they should be assessed by a primary care physician familiar with the rash-producing illnesses currently occurring in the community.

For patients for whom medication is prescribed, regular follow-up care with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or developmental-behavioral pediatrician is necessary for the duration of treatment.

A diary of symptoms may be a helpful tool for a psychiatrist to monitor the progression of a child’s treatment.^[8]