Developmental Epidemiology of Anxiety Disorders

摘要

The period of childhood through adolescence is the core risk phase for the first occurrence of anxiety that may range from transient mild symptoms to full-blown persistent anxiety disorders. The clinically valid assessment of anxiety symptoms, syndromes, and disorders is crucial to determine the prevalence, incidence, and longitudinal course and outcome of anxiety disorders. Further, identification of risk factors and specific anxiety characteristics that could serve as solid predictors for malignant or more benign course patterns is important for improved early recognition as well as prevention and treatment in this age span. Anxiety is a basic emotion already present in infancy and childhood, with expressions falling on a continuum from mild to severe. Anxiety is not typically pathologic but commonly adaptive when it facilitates avoidance of danger. The organisms' responses to danger and the underlying brain circuitry engaged by threats reflect these adaptive aspects of anxiety.