What Are the Treatments for Adolescents Who Suffer From Anxiety Disorder & Isolation?

An anxiety disorder can be severely debilitating and isolating for young adults, involving everything from obsessive thoughts and pervasive fears to panic attacks. Effective treatment, though, can help adolescents who suffer from anxiety disorders to learn how to manage their anxiety and to overcome the isolation that often results.

Types

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common type of treatment approach for anxiety disorders in adolescents. Empirical studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy, such as the Coping Cat treatment developed by Philip Kendall, helps to diminish anxiety symptoms and has long-lasting effects.

Features

• Most types of cognitive-behavioral therapy combine psychoeducation, exposure treatments, cognitive analysis, and modeling and skills exercises. Therapy will also usually involve sessions with both the adolescent and her or his parents during the course of the treatment.

Benefits

• Effective therapy can help adolescents to understand why they experience anxiety and to know how to manage and overcome their fears. During treatment, young adults also learn techniques to prevent relapses into anxiety and isolation in the future.

Effects

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy can have lasting positive effects. A majority of young adults who receive treatment remain free from anxiety for more than seven years and are less likely to engage in addictive behaviors, such as using alcohol or drugs.

Considerations

• Even though parental involvement is not necessary for effective treatment, most adolescents benefit from their parents participating in the therapy process. Young adults who also experience other disorders, such as post-traumatic stress, may need additional types of therapy.