Less Than Half of Children Treated for Anxiety Achieve Long-term Relief

According to the results of a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, fewer than one in two children and young adults treated for anxiety are able to achieve long-term relief from their symptoms. The study highlights the importance of vigilant follow-up and rigorous monitoring of symptoms among anxious children, teens, and young adults — even when they appear to be recovering. The study is said to be the first long-term analysis of children treated with a variety of therapeutic approaches. Participants received medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy or a combination of the two. Six years after their initial treatment, 47 percent of patients were anxiety free. Nearly 70 percent of patients required some type of intermittent mental-health therapy in the years following their original treatment, a finding that underscores the chronic nature of the disorder. To read more about this study, click here.