Washington University psychiatrist outlines anxiety, ADHD and evidence-based treatments at community clinic

Dr. Chad Sylvester, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Washington University, reviewed common types of childhood anxiety disorders, how anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can overlap, and evidence-based treatment approaches during a public corporate mental health clinic event.

Sylvester said anxiety disorders "are the most common form of mental health problem at any age, adult or child," and stressed early identification because symptoms most often begin in childhood. He described separation anxiety, social anxiety (social phobia) and generalized anxiety disorder, and explained that specific phobias are the most common single form seen in community settings.

The talk focused on treatments backed by research. Sylvester summarized a multisite randomized study of nearly 500 children with separation, social or generalized anxiety that compared medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), both treatments together and placebo. "Medicine and therapy are equally effective for kids with anxiety. The…