Screening for anxiety disorders in children

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and have negative consequences on individual and societal level. This study examined the usefulness of screening for anxiety disorders in primary school children. More specifically, the value of the screening method to discriminate between and to predict anxiety disorders was studied. Children and their parents were selected if the children had self-reported scores on the screening questionnaire Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-71 (SCARED-71) within the top-15% (High-anxious) or from two points below to two points above the median (Median-anxious). Of the selected children, 183 high-anxious children and their parents, and 80 median-anxious children and their parents took part in a diagnostic interview, the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule (ADIS). Of the high-anxious children, 60% had an anxiety disorder versus 23% of the median-anxious children, whereas groups did not differ on rates of dysthymia/depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The diagnoses separation anxiety disorder, social phobia and specific phobia were specifically predicted by the corresponding subscales of the screening questionnaire, while the diagnosis generalised anxiety disorder was not predicted by any of the subscales. The screening method has proven its utility for discriminating between children with and without anxiety disorders when applying the top-15% cut-off. Moreover, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, and specific phobia, all known to be prevalent and debilitating childhood anxiety disorders, can be predicted by the corresponding subscale of the screening instrument

Cumulative Risk Exposure and Social Isolation as Correlates of Carer and Child Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic:An Online Study with Families from Various Europeans Countries

This study adopted a cumulative risk approach to examine the relations between various domains of risk factors (i.e., social isolation and home confinement, other pandemic-related risk factors, and pre-existing psychosocial risk factors) and carers’ and children’s mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. The sample consisted of 1475 carers of 6- to 16-year-old children and adolescents residing in five European countries (Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania, Spain, and The Netherlands) who completed an online survey. The results showed that each of the three domains of adversity accounted for unique variation in carers’ and children’s mental health outcomes. Also, the results indicated that pre-existing psychosocial risk factors moderated the relationship between pandemic-related risk factors and children and carers’ anxiety and between social isolation and confinement and carers’ well-being. Simple slopes analysis suggested a stronger relationship between these domains of adversities and mental health outcomes in already more vulnerable families. It is important to consider the implications of social isolation measures and confinement for families’ mental health, paying special attention to families with pre-existing psychosocial vulnerabilities. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10578-021-01233-3

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5):Development and First Psychometric Evidence of a New Scale for Assessing Anxiety Disorders Symptoms of Children and Adolescents

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a new self- and parent-report questionnaire to assess anxiety disorder symptoms in children and adolescents in terms of the contemporary classification system. International panels of childhood anxiety researchers and clinicians were used to construct a scale consisting of two parts: part one consists of 28 items and measures the major anxiety disorders including separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, whereas part two contains 22 items that focus on specific phobias and (given its overlap with situational phobias) agoraphobia. In general, the face validity of the new scale was good; most of its items were successfully linked to the intended anxiety disorders. Notable exceptions were the selective mutism items, which were frequently considered as symptoms of social anxiety disorder, and some specific phobia items especially of the natural environment, situational and other type, that were regularly assigned to an incorrect category. A preliminary investigation of the YAM-5 in non-clinical (N = 132) and clinically referred (N = 64) children and adolescents indicated that the measure was easy to complete by youngsters. In addition, support was found for the psychometric qualities of the measure: that is, the internal consistency was good for both parts, as well as for most of the subscales, the parent-child agreement appeared satisfactory, and there was also evidence for the validity of the scale. The YAM-5 holds promise as a tool for assessing anxiety disorder symptoms in children and adolescents

Acceptability of in vivo and virtual reality exposure in children and their parents, and associations with child- and parent variables

Exposure is a crucial and central component in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children, in particular for specific fears and phobias. However, many children with specific fears and phobias do not receive exposure. Some anxious children (and their parents) might not be willing to engage in real-life confrontations with their fear-eliciting stimulus or situation. Exposure by means of virtual reality (VR) could potentially be a more acceptable alternative, given its controllable and safe nature. In the current study we examine and compare the acceptability of and beliefs about in vivo and VR exposure in children between 9 and 14 years old with elevated levels of a specific fear and in one of their parents. Moreover, we will investigate if children who score high on behavioral inhibition, trait anxiety, who are reared in a protective or anxious way, whose parent is high-anxious and who are more avoidant are also more reluctant to in vivo exposure and prefer exposure in VR. We will also test which parents are more reluctant to let their child engage in exposure in vivo and have a stronger preference for VR exposure. To this end, parents and children will, after they received information about in vivo and VR exposure, complete an online survey

Anxiety measure

Iedereen voelt van tijd tot tijd angst; angst is een normale emotie. Het is echter niet gezond om te lang overmatige angst te hebben, of om angst te intens te ervaren. Deze website is bedoeld om overmatige angst bij kinderen en adolescenten in de leeftijd van 8 tot 18 jaar te helpen identificeren.We bieden de vragenlijst over jeugdangst voor DSM-5 (YAM-5) gratis aan op deze site, zodat ouders, artsen en onderzoekers deze kunnen gebruiken. De vragenlijst is beschikbaar in 12 verschillende talen.Wij moedigen het gebruik, het delen en verspreiden van de vragenlijst aan. Daarnaast vind je op deze site een oproep om samen te werken met wetenschappers.Laten we samenwerken om overmatige angst bij jongeren te begrijpen en aan te pakken

Anxiety measure

Iedereen voelt van tijd tot tijd angst; angst is een normale emotie. Het is echter niet gezond om te lang overmatige angst te hebben, of om angst te intens te ervaren. Deze website is bedoeld om overmatige angst bij kinderen en adolescenten in de leeftijd van 8 tot 18 jaar te helpen identificeren.We bieden de vragenlijst over jeugdangst voor DSM-5 (YAM-5) gratis aan op deze site, zodat ouders, artsen en onderzoekers deze kunnen gebruiken. De vragenlijst is beschikbaar in 12 verschillende talen.Wij moedigen het gebruik, het delen en verspreiden van de vragenlijst aan. Daarnaast vind je op deze site een oproep om samen te werken met wetenschappers.Laten we samenwerken om overmatige angst bij jongeren te begrijpen en aan te pakken

Supporting parents in times of excessive infant crying: a pilot and feasibility study of an online program

The birth of a new baby is an impactful event for parents. It is associated with both positive experiences, as well as with challenges (Luhman et al, 2012). While many of the challenges parents face are a typical when having a baby and tend to ease with time, some parents experience that the challenges exceed their resources, for instance when infants cry excessively. About one in five infants cries excessively during the first months of life (Barr, 1990). An even larger number of infants are reported to experience regulation problems, encompassing crying, and difficulties with eating and sleeping (Wolke, 2003), presenting a significant source of distress to parents. Caring for infants with regulation problems can take a toll on parents. Studies have reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and stress in parents of infants with regulation problems (Quist et al. 2019; Wake et al. 2006). Conversely, higher levels of stress and depression have been associated with infant regulatory problems (Martini et al. 2017). In addition, parents struggling with excessive infant crying experience lower levels of self-efficacy and have an increased risk of parent-child relationship problems (Cutrona & Troutman; Leerkens & Crockenberg, 2002; Olsen et al. 2019; Papoušek & von Hofacker, 1998; Troutman et al. 2012). Ensuring parents receive adequate support is thus important. However, existing interventions are often targeted at reducing infant crying (Mihelic, Morawska & Filus, 2017), even though some infants cry inconsolably regardless of parenting practices (Douglas & Hisock, 2010). In addition, most parents seeking care for infant crying, seem dissatisfied with professional health care (e.g., not being taken seriously) (van der Veek & van Rosmalen, 2023). Hence, it is important that interventions move beyond the focus on reducing infant crying. Studies that have adopted a more comprehensive approach, emphasizing parental support, parental well-being and strengthening the parent-child relationship, have shown promising results (e.g., Hiscock et al. 2014; Keefe et al. 2006; Gilkerson et al. 2020). Notably, these interventions were all offered in-person. However, online parenting interventions show great potential (Nieuwboer et al. 2013; Spencer et al. 2020), as they lower the threshold for parents to participate, particularly in the transition to parenthood. Additionally, online programs offer the advantage of circumventing waiting lists for in-person interventions. The aim of the present study is twofold: 1) to pilot the initial effectiveness of a brief online program, designed to support parents of babies that are perceived to cry excessively, and 2) to explore feasibility of the program

Neglecting the impact of childhood neglect:A scoping review of the relation between child neglect and emotion regulation in adulthood

BACKGROUND: Childhood neglect, a prevalent form of child abuse, has significant short-term and long-term consequences on mental health.OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of existing evidence on childhood neglect in relation to emotion regulation in adulthood.PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were not individually evaluated but we provided future directions for research based on the overview of studies.METHODS: A systematic search strategy was conducted, resulting in the analysis of 25 selected articles. We performed an inventory of existing evidence to identify knowledge gaps.RESULTS: The review identified the need for future research to differentiate neglect from other forms of child abuse. Longitudinal studies tracking individuals from childhood to adulthood are recommended to understand developmental trajectories and continuity. Diverse samples, with various ages, genders, and (socio-economic) backgrounds, should be included for enhanced generalizability. Geographical representation should be expanded to capture cultural variations in the association between neglect and adult emotion regulation. Furthermore, investigating other psychopathologies beyond depression in relation to neglect and emotion regulation is suggested.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this scoping review highlights the limited knowledge regarding the link between childhood neglect and adult emotion regulation and provides valuable recommendations for advancing research in this field.</p