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Cognitive Functioning in Youth with Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review
Jonathan C Rabner1,2,3, Julia S Ney4, Philip C Kendall5
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA. jrabner@temple.edu.
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
|June 3, 2024
Summary
Youth with anxiety disorders show deficits in receptive language and motor skills, but not attention or inhibition. Cognitive functioning in anxious youth is not associated with lower IQ, though most areas show mixed findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Anxiety disorders in youth can impact cognitive content and functioning.
- Understanding cognitive domains affected by anxiety is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cognitive functioning in youth (≤17 years) diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
- To identify specific cognitive strengths and deficits across various domains.
- To explore the relationship between anxiety disorders and overall IQ in youth.
Main Methods:
- Systematic database search of Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed.
- Inclusion criteria: youth aged 17 or younger, diagnosed anxiety disorder, control group, behavioral neuropsychological measures.
- Analysis of 28 studies examining episodic memory, language, attention, executive functioning, motor skills, and visual functioning.
Main Results:
- No cognitive functioning strengths were identified in anxious youth.
- Deficits observed in receptive language and motor skills.
- No deficits found in attention, visuospatial skills, or inhibition (a type of executive functioning).
- Most cognitive domains exhibited mixed findings.
- Anxiety disorders in youth were not associated with diminished IQ.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety disorders in youth are associated with specific cognitive deficits, particularly in language and motor skills.
- Cognitive functioning in anxious youth is not universally impaired and IQ is generally unaffected.
- Future research should focus on larger samples, treatment outcomes, treatment effects on cognition, and the long-term course of anxiety and cognitive impairment.
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