Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Recognizing and Treating the Emerging Epidemic

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, but they often go undetected or untreated. With more than 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic, significant increases in rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic symptoms and sadly suicide in children and adolescent are a major reality R/T the unknowns of the virus and social isolation. The nurse needs to be acutely aware that recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or a suicide plan and/or somatic symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal complaints, muscle tension, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, reduced ability to think, concentrate, or increased indecisiveness, commonly accompany childhood anxiety disorder and should not be ignored. These symptoms may bring the child/adolescent to the ED and or be a co-morbid occurrence during a hospitalization/outpatient visit. They could have a major impact on outcomes and need to be seen as a potential or actual red flag requiring an in-depth mental health assessment.

This program is for every nurse, regardless of their practice area, since anxiety disorders in children/adolescents not only affects the individual but the family as a whole.

For Information Only Contact:

rntraining@1199funds.org

or

Sondra Rosen  212-894-4308

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