Worrisome thoughts in children clinically referred for anxiety disorder

Administered a 31-item worry measure, based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) for anxiety disorders, to referred children with anxiety disorders (n = 72) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n = 50), and to nonreferred, never psychiatrically ill controls (n = 55). Anxiety and ADHD groups did not differ for self-reported worries. Anxious children did report more "intense" worries about separation and social evaluation than controls. ADHD children reported more intense worries about friends and school than controls. Separation worries were most prevalent in children with separation anxiety disorder, thus distinguishing this subgroup from both control groups. Results suggest that intense worries specific to one's anxiety disorder are more clinically relevant than the overall level of worry. Implications for assessment of worry are discussed.