Psychopharmacologic treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders
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Updated: May 20, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
Jeffrey R Strawn1, Dara J Sakolsky, Moira A Rynn
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA. strawnjr@uc.edu
Abstract:
Over the last decade, psychopharmacologic treatments for pediatric anxiety disorders have been developed and increasingly subjected to randomized, controlled trials. The authors summarize the data concerning the use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical anxiolytics, and benzodiazepines. The extant data suggest that SSRIs--both as monotherapy and when combined with psychotherapy--are effective in the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders. In addition, some TCAs and SNRIs are effective. However, randomized controlled trials do not suggest efficacy for benzodiazepines or the atypical anxiolytic, buspirone, for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
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