Chapter 22: Children and Anxiety

Question 1

Common Criteria to all anxiety disorders in childhood

Answer 1

• anxiety that does not abate or gets worse over time (persistent)
• anxiety that pervades more than one aspect of the child’s life
• significant distress or avoidance of feared situations
• impaired functioning or development in response to the anxiety

Question 2

Diagnosis

Answer 2

-complete physical, psychosocial, and family history helps reveal genetic, biological, and familial contributors
>differentiation between the categories of anxiety disorders is related to the type of fear exhibited by the child

Question 3

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Answer 3

children experience overwhelming fear of becoming separated from or losing a caregiver

Question 4

Panic Disorder

Answer 4

usually begins in adolescence but may start earlier
>symptoms of a panic attack:
-palpitations
-sweating
-shaking
-nausea
-dizziness
-fear of dying
-tingling sensations
-chills or hot flashes

Question 5

Agoraphobia

Answer 5

fear of and avoidance of certain places or situations (e.g. fear of leaving home) or being in open or crowded places

Question 6

Specific Phobia

Answer 6

refers to unrelenting fear of certain objects or situations (e.g. spiders, storms, snakes, or water)
>may be difficult to evaluate b/c at each developmental stage children and adolescents have various expected fears

Question 7

Social Anxiety

Answer 7

avoid social situations

Question 8

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 8

children experience excessive worry about everything, including peer relationships, social acceptance, and pleasing others

Question 9

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Answer 9

occurs in response to a perceived or actual threat to one’s life or safety
-there is a clear precipitant, and a reaction is generally understandable; this response may persist for weeks, months, or years and is accompanied by panic symptoms

Question 10

Anxiety: Somatic Complaints

Answer 10

stomachaches and restlessness
>nurse can recognize anxiety problems when the child persistently presents with symptoms that do not have a recognizable physical cause

Question 11

Prevention

Answer 11

-paying attention to any signs of anxiety is the first step in recognizing clinically significant symptoms
>children and adolescents are more likely to respond to someone who takes the time to listen and care

Question 12

The Coping Cat Program

Answer 12

• designed for ages 7 to 13 with anxiety disorders (used for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia)
• designed to help the child develop skills to cope with anxiety and provide techniques to decrease fears through systematic exposure to the feared objects

Question 13

CAT program

Answer 13

used for adolescents

• (used for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia)
• designed to help the child develop skills to cope with anxiety and provide techniques to decrease fears through systemic exposure to the feared objects

Question 14

The FREINDS Program

Answer 14

designed for the parents as well as their children with anxiety disorders
-similar to coping cat; uses cognitive-behavioral techniques to help children and their families cope with anxiety
>acronym:
-Feeling worried?
-Relax and feel good
-Inner thoughts
-Explore plans
-Nice work so reward yourself
-Don't forget to practice
-Stay calm, you know how to cope

Question 15

Education/Discharge

Answer 15

provide health teaching for families related to health coping and communication

• teach interventions: relaxation and deep breathing
• problem solving techniques

Question 16

Mindful Breathing

Answer 16

-mindfulness = paying attention in the present moment
-paying attention to ones breathing may be a way of coping with anxiety
>teaches slow breathing by telling the child to:
-consciously direct your attention to your breathing
-breathe in slowly, paying attention as the air enters nose and mouth and fills your lungs
-breathe out slowly, paying attention as the air leaves your body
-allow your mind to follow the breath in and out
-imagine yourself in a rubber raft riding the gentle waves of your breath