Predictors of Pharmacological Treatment Response in Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders

• Published in: Psychiatry and behavioral sciences Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 176
• Main Authors: l, Melike, a, Taha, Demirci, Esra, zmen, Sevgi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul Yerkure Tanitim ve Yayincilik Hizmetleri A.S 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Anxiety disorders; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Comorbidity; Teenagers
• ISSN: 2636-834X; 2636-834X
• DOI: 10.5455/PBS.20240318102820

Aim/Background: Anxiety disorders are frequently seen in children and adolescents and cause significant loss of functionality and a decrease in quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting treatment response in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Methods: 340 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years who applied to child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics of a university hospital between May 2018 and May 2023, diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and used only drug treatment were included in the study by retrospectively examining of the patient files. The age, gender, diagnosis, disorder severity, treatment and treatment response, comorbid disorders, physical diseases, and their treatments of the patients were recorded. Results: 116 of the patients were male, and 224 were female. While the most common diagnosis was generalized anxiety disorder (62.4%), the most frequently prescribed medication was sertraline (52.4%). Having specific phobia (p=0.026), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbidity (p=0.029) and using atypical antipsychotics (p=0.037) were negative predictors of treatment response. Other variables did not have any predictive effect on treatment response. Conclusions: Understanding the factors that influence treatment response in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and predicting the disorder's prognosis. Appropriate interventions addressing modifiable factors that have a negative impact on treatment response should be considered for treatment.