Assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.

This article reviews the current screening and assessment tools for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, as well as evidence-based treatment interventions for these disorders. The following anxiety disorders are discussed: separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and selective mutism. There are several well-studied screening and assessment tools to identify childhood anxiety disorders early and differentiate the various anxiety disorders.

Sample Core Competencies in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training: A Starting Point.

In an effort to improve the preparedness of residents to address health care needs, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandated that all Residency Review Committees (RRCs) incorporate the general competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice into their requirements. In response, the Psychiatry RRC mandated that child and adolescent psychiatry programs develop one competency for each of the six areas, effective January 1, 2001. To assist in this effort, the Work Group on Training and Education of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has developed sample core competencies for each area.