Clinical
Mission

Our Mission:

• To provide current and effective treatment for childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders through our multidisciplinary team
• To conduct research in prevention, diagnosis and treatment
• To provide training and education
  

Clinic Description:
The PSADC provides diagnostic assessment and evidence-informed treatment for children and adolescents experiencing significant anxiety and stress. The program serves youth from diverse cultural/ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds, and is the largest program of its kind in the Chicago area.

Following a comprehensive evaluation by our multidisciplinary staff, our staff will recommend from among the following treatment modalities based on the individual needs of the child and family: Cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and family psychoeducation. We also provide group therapy focused on teaching children and youth social skills, strategies to decrease their anxiety symptoms, coping skills, and support and skill building for parents. These groups are facilitated by PSADC staff and trainees.

Consultation to area schools, professionals, and community agencies is also available for clinical and educational purposes. Our clinic emphasizes community and parent education and provides educational programming directly to schools, parent groups, and community agencies.

The PSADC has been developed so that clinical work, teaching and research can be integrated. Clinical information collected through questionnaires and structured interviews will be used to develop individualized treatment to reduce the development and severity of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. In addition, families may be asked to participate in research projects that can eventually lead to improved prevention and treatment efforts in the area of anxiety disorders.

Patient Population:
Children and adolescents evaluated and treated in the PSADC have been referred for a range of anxiety disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, Selective Mutism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and related disorders such as Trichotillomania and Tourette’s Disorder. Children and adolescent referred to the clinic typically have numerous comorbid diagnoses including, most commonly, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and depressive disorder. The youth are diverse in age, gender, and ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic demographics. Patients are referred by a variety of sources both within and outside the UIC Medical Center including pediatricians and other physicians, mental health providers, schools, and parents. This pediatric anxiety clinic is a unique resource for families in the Chicago area as well as other parts of Illinois and neighboring states. Thus, referrals can come from long distances.