[Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents].

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with estimated prevalence rates of between five and ten percent. Comorbidity rates are high--in particular for further anxiety and depressive disorders. The etiology is considered to be multifactorial, with genetic, biological and temperamental factors as well as stressful life events, parental role models and parenting all playing a part. Therapeutic programs combine psychological counseling--including the family--psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy, as required. As psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral interventions have proven highly effective. In severe disorders that prevent the overcoming of complex anxiety/phobias (e.g. going to school impossible), psychopharmacotherapeutic measures can be helpful, and may support, or, in individual cases even make possible, successful psychotherapy.