Advances in Pharmacotherapy for Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

The evidence base for psychopharmacologic interventions in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders has significantly increased, and our understanding of the relative efficacy and tolerability of interventions has expanded contemporaneously. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line pharmacologic treatment for pediatric anxiety due to their robust efficacy although other agents may have efficacy. This review summarizes the data concerning the use of SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, atypical anxiolytics (eg, 5HT1A agonists, alpha agonists), and benzodiazepines in pediatric anxiety disorder cases (ie, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder). The extant data suggest that SSRIs and SNRIs are effective and well tolerated. SSRIs as monotherapy and SSRIs + cognitive behavioral therapy reduce symptoms in youth with anxiety disorders. However, randomized controlled trials do not suggest efficacy for benzodiazepines or the 5HT1A agonist, buspirone, in pediatric anxiety disorder cases.