Pediatric Generalized Anxiety Disorder Workup

  • Author: Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD; Chief Editor: Caroly Pataki, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 8, 2012
 

Approach Considerations

Consider urine drug screening (especially with adolescents), thyroid-stimulating hormone level assessment, and less common laboratory tests based on history and physical findings.

Excessive laboratory exclusion of somatic complaints is to be avoided; however, careful interview and physical examination assessment of stress-related symptoms should be repeated if the psychological diagnostic picture is unclear.

Many substances of abuse and even prescribed medications can contribute to anxiety manifestations (eg, stimulants for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, beta-2 agonists and corticosteroids for reactive airway disease). Furthermore, both use and/or withdrawal from substances of abuse may contribute to anxiety signs and symptoms.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD  President and Director, North Georgia Neuropsychiatry, PC

Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Carrie Sylvester, MD, MPH  Senior Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Sound Mental Health

Carrie Sylvester, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Caroly Pataki, MD  Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Division Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Caroly Pataki, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Academy of Sciences, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Chet Johnson, MD Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Associate Director, Developmental Pediatrician, Center for Child Health and Development, Shiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas School of Medicine; LEND Director, University of Kansas Medical Center

Chet Johnson is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lene Holm Larsen, PhD Instructor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  4. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th Edition, Text Revision. 4th ed. Washington, DC: APA Press; 2000.

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  17. McGrath PJ, Lingley-Pottie P, Thurston C, et al. Telephone-based mental health interventions for child disruptive behavior or anxiety disorders: randomized trials and overall analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Nov 2011;50(11):1162-72. [Medline].

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  19. Bridge JA, Iyengar S, Salary CB, et al. Clinical response and risk for reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in pediatric antidepressant treatment: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA. Apr 18 2007;297(15):1683-96. [Medline].

 
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