GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Anxiety and Depression in Children and Youth – Diagnosis and Treatment
Effective Date: January 1, 2010
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION
Guidelines &
Protocols
Advisory
Committee
Scope
This guideline presents recommendations for early diagnosis, intervention, and maintenance treatment of
depression and anxiety disorders in children and youth (18 years and under).
Diagnostic Codes: 300 (Anxiety, dissociative and somatoform disorders)
308 (Acute reaction to stress)
311 (Depressive disorder NOS)
313 (Disturbance of emotions specific to childhood and adolescence)
Routine Screening and Diagnosis
Periodically screen children and youth for early signs of depression and/or anxiety. Record these results in the
patient’s problem list.
Ask questions of the child (or parent where applicable) when there are red flags including: unexplained somatic
complaints; unexplained behavioural changes; teenage pregnancy; school absences and family members with
depression, anxiety, alcohol or other substance abuse.
Suggested questions
• Do you find yourself sad, irritable or worried a lot?
• Is the child withdrawing from or avoiding their usual activities?
Family involvement is invaluable for assisting with and monitoring treatments as well as providing assurance and
emotional support for the child or youth. Assure the family that the questions and fact-finding is not to assign
blame but to better understand the situation.
Choose an appropriate diagnostic questionnaire available for download on the internet. If the screen indicates
a possible problem then either begin or schedule time to begin a detailed inquiry about anxiety or depressive
symptoms, evaluate severity, and the potential for self-harm. Consider that there may be more than one
psychiatric disorder when screening because anxiety and depressive disorders are highly comorbid in children
and adolescents. Refer to Appendix A: Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Youth for descriptions of
these disorders.
All youth with mood or anxiety disorders should be screened for alcohol or drug use.
Note red flags for risk of bipolar depression: family history; psychotic depression; mania with Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs); hyper-sexuality; risk-taking behaviour and pre-pubertal depression. Consider
referral if bipolar disorder is suspected. Manage the patient while waiting for referral (see management
considerations) and provide follow-up.
Anxiety And depression in Children And youth – diAgnosis And treAtment
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Diagnosis
Take a medical history and do a physical examination with attention to conditions that may mimic anxiety or
depressive disorders. Consider indications for diagnostic tests such as TSH. Consider the family situation and
social stressors.
Refer to Appendix A for descriptions of anxiety disorders, examples of anxiety disorders appearing as another
disorder, prevalence, development, and treatment tips.
If post-partum depression is possible, consider referring for treatment. Manage while waiting for referral and
provide follow-up.
Management considerations
Remember the basics: regular sleep, eating and exercise routines, along with consistent
effective parenting are essential.1
Enlist the family for help in supporting the child with the treatment plan. Reassure them that they are not being
blamed for the problems but that they can provide valuable help with developing and enacting a treatment plan
and can help provide reassurance to the child or youth throughout the process. Consider the strengths of the
family (and possibly larger community and school), use these and build upon them in the treatment plan.
Make a diagnosis if possible, and then begin to treat or refer as appropriate.
• Refer to Treatment Algorithm in this guideline
• Refer to Appendix A: Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Youth and Appendix B:
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders and Depression in Children and Youth
• Provide parents with A Guide for Parents (either for Anxiety or Depression) and the Resource List for
Families included with this guideline which lists pamphlets, books, web-resources and information
Set these treatment goals:
• Work towards both symptom and functional improvement including normal academic and
psychosocial development
• Encourage assertiveness: taking charge of daily activities, increasing socialization, avoiding
procrastination, developing goals and routines
• Teach healthy thinking: replace “what if” and self-deprecating thinking, with positive appraisals and
achievable daily goals
Monitor management regularly:
• Within a week or two after initiation of treatment
• Every 2 weeks until well or is receiving secondary care
• If you are the primary care provider, then every 2 months for 6 months (as necessary)
• Structured monitoring using Appendix C: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Monitoring
Form, and Appendix D: Measurement of Functional Change
Avoid these common pitfalls:
• Failure to address and discourage avoidance of school, friends, work and feared situations -
avoidance is instinctive and natural but unhelpful
• Allowing treatment goals to be side-tracked by physical symptoms i.e. encourage the child to
continue school and activities
Attempt non-pharmacological management strategies first
Non-pharmacological approaches are essential first-line treatments for both anxiety2-7 and depression.2,3 It
is likely that your initial visits along with parent input and books that are read by parent and child will affect a
significant response.
Anxiety And depression in Children And youth – diAgnosis And treAtment
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Treatment Algorithm for Children and Youth with Anxiety or Depression
Specialist Referral
• Diagnostic clarification
• High suicide risk
• Severe obsessive compulsive
disorder (OCD) and panic
• Persistent school avoidance
• Possible bipolarity
Basic Interventions
Initial step & at any time when needed (refer to text)
• Sleep, eating, exercise routines1
• Consistency in parenting
• Refer to the list of self-help and community resources including the Ministry
of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
• Refer to Guides for Parents
• Emergency safety plan
• Reminder to avoid drugs and alcohol
After providing basic intervention, follow step 1 then go to step 2 (if necessary)
Step 1. Psychotherapeutic Interventions2-8
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders
- Avoid avoidance
- Practice facing fears (resources)
• CBT or Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for depression
Step 2. Medications: consider indications for medications particularly if not
functioning (not attending school, marked vegetative symptoms)
Medications – if severe symptoms persist despite above interventions
• Depression – fluoxetine
• OCD – fluoxetine, fluvoxamine or sertraline
• Mixed anxiety – fluoxetine or fluvoxamine, sertraline
All levelS of SeveRIty
ModeRAte SeveRIty oR
peRSIStence of SyMptoMS
SeveRe, peRSIStent SyMptoMS
deSpIte ABove InteRventIonS
If physician counseling, parental involvement and use of books does not effect a significant improvement it is
appropriate to refer to a specialist or to the Child and Youth Mental Health team for treatment.
Treatment Type
I. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Anxiety: The evidence-based psychological treatment for anxiety disorders is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(CBT), a brief, directive therapy to promote realistic and adaptive thinking patterns and build behavioural
competence through graduated exposure.2-7
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Depression: CBT is also considered effective for child and adolescent depression.2,3
• Available through Child and Youth Mental Health teams (phone 250 387-7027 (Greater Victoria) or toll
free 1 877 387-7027 or the website http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health) or
private specialists trained in CBT.
• Self-help materials based on CBT at the Anxiety Disorder Association of BC (ADABC)
(phone (604) 525-7566 or website with videos at: http://www.anxietybc.com)
• Self-help materials (e.g. “Dealing with Depression”) designed to help depressed adolescents
available through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Child and
Youth Mental Health website (http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health) and the
Knowledge Network tool (http://www.knowledgenetwork.ca)
There is evidence of benefit using Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) but it is not as strong as for CBT.8 IPT is
similar to CBT but has more focus on interpersonal problem solving. There are fewer professionals trained in IPT
treatment.
• Available at some Child and Youth Mental Health teams or through some private specialists
trained in IPT
II. Pharmacological Management Strategies
In general, pharmacotherapy alone is not recommended for children and adolescents. Its use should ideally
be preceded and complemented by psychotherapy and/or behavioural therapy. Employ pharmacological
management strategies if non-pharmacological interventions are not achieving therapeutic goals. If
required, these are the issues to be considered.
There is very little peer reviewed evidence as to the safety or efficacy of SSRI medications for the treatment
of anxiety and/or depression in young children. Approximately two-thirds of randomized placebo controlled
pharmacological trials for depressive disorders in children and adolescents consider an age range starting from
ages 6-8 through to ages 17 or 18, while the other third of cases consider ages 12-13 through 17-18.9-18
Given the above, no SSRIs are approved for marketing in Canada as appropriate medications for patients under
age 18. Refer to the Health Canada statement below.21
“It is important to note that Health Canada has not approved these drugs for use in patients under 18
years. The prescribing of drugs is a physician’s responsibility. Although these drugs are not authorized
for use in children, doctors rely on their knowledge of patients and the drugs to determine whether to
prescribe them at their discretion in a practice called off-label use. Off-label use of these drugs in children
is acknowledged to be an important tool for doctors. Doctors are advised to carefully monitor patients
of all ages for emotional or behavioural changes that may indicate potential for harm, including suicidal
thoughts and the onset or worsening of agitation-type adverse events.”
Adding pharmacotherapy to the non-pharmacological approaches needs to be done with careful monitoring,
while informing patient and family about risks and benefit. An emergency safety plan should be made when
there is moderate to severe symptoms, whether or not pharmacotherapy is used.
Indications for pharmacotherapy include: persistent depression and/or a comorbid anxiety disorder which
have not responded to psychosocial interventions.
Anxiety: Drugs most often used are fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, or sertraline for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
and mixed anxiety, including social anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 9-14
SSRIs appear to be generally somewhat effective in randomised control trials in anxiety. Benzodiazepines are not
recommended because of anger, disinhibition, habituation and irritability response.
Anxiety And depression in Children And youth – diAgnosis And treAtment
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Depression: Psychotherapy can be effective for treating depression, particularly in adolescents. If unavailable,
medications may be indicated. 15-18
• The drug most often used is fluoxetine
• If bipolar vulnerability, start with a shorter-acting SSRI (e.g. sertraline)
• If comorbid anxiety, fluvoxamine or sertraline are possible alternatives
The majority of randomised control trials in depression show no significant benefit of SSRI medications over
placebo. Spontaneous remission in community diagnosed adolescent depression is 50% within two months.
However, those not remitting in this time period have a high risk of chronicity. Refer to a specialist.
Medication Dosing and Follow-Up for Anxiety and Depression
Initiation and Continuation: Pick target symptoms to self-monitor and document weekly (give form to parent
or teenager - Appendix C or download from http://www.cpsbc.ca). Ask families and caregivers to help by daily
monitoring the child or youth for worsening symptoms or any unusual changes or behaviours, particularly any
emergence of suicidality. Discuss an emergency plan as well as planned follow-up.
General Dosing Suggestions: Start with ¼ or ½ of the adult dose and wait at least one week to increase
dosages. For adolescents, the maximum dose can be similar to adults, while the dose is less than the adult
dose for children.19
• Anxiety: Children who are anxious are sensitive to physical sensations. Provide support, reassurance
and monitor frequently. Generalized anxiety disorder may respond at lower doses (e.g. 25-50 mg
sertraline),20 OCD (100-200 mg sertraline); generally start low and increase slowly. Dosing example:
10 mg daily fluoxetine for an adolescent. For an anxious 6 year old, start with 5 mg daily and use
increments of 5 mg every two weeks if needed.
• Depression: The response often requires full doses for youth and the response to medication
is slower. Example: start the first week with 10 mg daily of fluoxetine and increase to 20 mg daily as
soon as tolerated. Increase again up 30 mg daily if not improved after 6 weeks to a maximum of
40 mg daily. If not responding after 10-12 weeks, refer to specialist.
Adverse Effects: In children, SSRIs and other new anti-depressants produce a higher rate of behavioural and
emotional adverse effects (such as: agitation, disinhibition, irritability and occasionally thoughts of self-harm).
The largest drug-placebo difference in the number of cases of suicidal ideation and behaviour is greatest for
the under-24 age group. For all ages, the risk is highest during the first few months of drug therapy, therefore,
monitor patients closely during this time. For more information, review the product monograph, Health Canada
warnings for SSRIs at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
website at http://www.fda.gov.
Monitoring: Request assistance of the family and/or teenager, to monitor both symptoms and functions. Use
the SSRI Monitoring Form (Appendix C and link below) as well as Measurement of Functional Change
(Appendix D).
Continuation: For both anxiety and depression the usual length of treatment is 6-12 months before a trial of
tapering.
Discontinuation: Anxious patients are very sensitive to physical sensations during discontinuation. So,
taper off particularly slowly over 1-2 months by approximately 5 mg per reduction. For slow smooth tapering,
capsules can be opened and/or pills divided.
Refer to Pharmacare Plan G if financial assistance is needed for medication coverage. Information is available
at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare and the form is available at http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca.
Anxiety And depression in Children And youth – diAgnosis And treAtment
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Referral to Specialist
Indications for referral to a specialist:
• Depression or anxiety that has not responded to primary treatment
• High suicide risk
• Severe OCD and panic
• Persistent school avoidance
• Possible bipolarity
• Postpartum depression
Referral options (also refer to other resources in the Resource List for Physicians)
• Continue to follow the patient until they are seen by the specialist
• For specialist mental health consultation and CBT refer to MCFD - Child and Youth Mental Health
(250 387-7027 (Greater Victoria) or toll free 1 877 387-7027); or contact a community or
private Psychiatrist
• Community or private psychologist with skills in CBT for children and youth
British Columbia Psychological Association at 604 730-0522 (Lower Mainland) or toll
free 1 800 730-0522 or the website http://www.psychologists.bc.ca/referral.html
• For treatment resistant cases (aged 6 to 19), refer to the tertiary care Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital, 604 875-2010 or the website at
http://www.bcchildrens.ca/Services/default.htm
Rationale
Psychiatric disorders in children and youth are under-detected in health care settings. Symptoms are likely to
be missed unless they are severe or accompanied by physical illness.25 Under-detection represents a serious
omission given the research evidence establishing effective treatments for both anxiety and depression in
children.1-18
The prevalence of anxiety disorders in children aged 5 to 17 is 6.4%.22 The debilitating nature of these disorders
is routinely underestimated and the need for help may not be realized until serious impairment in social and
academic functioning has occurred.23 Untreated anxiety disorders in children and adolescents are associated
with higher rates of comorbid depression and substance abuse.24
Depression affects 3.5% of children at any given time, impeding healthy psychosocial development.1 Diminished
self-worth, academic struggles, and difficulties in social relations with family and peers exert a heavy toll
on youth who are often unable to communicate the nature of their experience. Clinical depression during
adolescence represents the strongest risk factor for teenager suicide and is linked to significant psychosocial
impairment in adulthood.23
Periodic screening of children presenting -- for any reason -- to primary care physicians can improve clinical
recognition of these disorders and result in improved rates of treatment.26
Anxiety And depression in Children And youth – diAgnosis And treAtment
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References
1. Larun L, Nordheim L, Ekeland E, et al. Exercise in prevention
and treatment of anxiety and depression among children and
young people (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews 2006;3.
2. Compton S, March J, Brent D, et al. Cognitive-behavioral
psychotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders in chil-
dren and adolescents: an evidence-based medicine review. J
Am Acad Child Adoles Psychiatry 2004;43(8):930-59.
3. Chu B, Harrison T. Disorder-specific effects of CBT for
anxious and depressed youth: a meta-analysis of candi-
date mediators of change. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev
2007;10:352-72.
4. Kendall P, Brady E, Verduin T. Comorbidity in childhood
anxiety disorders and treatment outcomes. J Am Acad Child
Adolesc Psychiatry 2001;40(7):787-794.
5. Soler J, Weatherall R. Cognitive behavioural therapy for
anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews 2005;4.
6. O’Kearney R, Anstey K, von Sanden C. Behavioural and
cognitive behavioural therapy for obsessive compulsive
disorder in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of
Systematic Reviews 2006;4.
7. Lumpkin P, Silverman W, Weems C, et al. Treating a hetero-
geneous set of anxiety disorders in youths with group cogni-
tive therapy: A partially non concurrent multiple-baseline
evaluation. Behavior Therapy 2002;33(1):163–77.
8. Mufson L, Dorta K, Wickramaratne P, et al. A randomized
effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for
depressed adolescents. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2004;61:577–
84.
9. Stein D, Ipser J, van Balkom A. Pharmacotherapy for social
anxiety disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
2000;4.
10. Kapczinski F, L
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