The pharmacological treatment of childhood anxiety disorders

Pharmacological treatment for childhood anxiety disorders has come a long way since the early 1960s. At this time the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy and replaced the tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. Much more, however, needs to be done to establish confidence in the safety and efficacy of medication treatment. Future studies need to address the comparison of medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, the safety and efficacy of long-term medication treatment and the optimal duration of medication to minimize relapse and recurrence. This manuscript reviews medication treatment trials from the 1960s to the present with particular emphasis on the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.