 webmaster@psych.uic.edu
|
Clinical
Treatment and Assesment
Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation of anxiety disorders and co-occuring disorders. For very young children, parent report measures can be useful for understanding the child’s current situation (Child Behavior Checklist and Preschool Anxiety Scale). For children age 8 and older, self-report anxiety measures also can be used as screening tools (MASC for anxiety, CDI for depression, and Conners for ADHD). Obtaining information from several people and settings including parents, teachers, and children is important because often their responses are different from one another. Each one may be more aware of a certain part of the child’s anxiety symptoms, distress, or impact of the anxiety on school, family, or friends.
In addition we collect information regarding family functioning, stressors affecting the family, anxiety and stress in parents, the child’s sense of safety, the child’s coping skills, and the child’s social supports. All of these factors may contribute to risk and protective factors that impact the development and severity of anxiety disorders.
The comprehensive clinical interview considers biological, psychological, and social aspects of the child and family’s life in developing diagnostic formulation. In addition, the ADIS-C (Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Child Version) is a state of the art semi-structured interview that assists the PSADC clinician to help determine the different anxiety disorders present as well as the presence of commonly co-occuring disorders such as depression and ADHD.
Comprehensive Treatment Planning
The results of the diagnostic evaluation are discussed with our PSADC multi-disciplinary treatment team that includes child and adolescent psychiatry, child and adolescent psychology, nursing, and social work. We develop a comprehensive treatment plan that considers the strengths as well as struggles that the child and family are facing. The treatment plan provides recommendations that address: individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, medications, interventions at school, and parent guidance based on the individual needs of the child and family. The clinician discusses the treatment plan with the family and provides information about the child’s diagnosis and the treatment recommendations to the child and family.
Multifaceted Assessment and Treatment
We are unique in providing a very thorough diagnostic evaluation for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders as well as a full range of treatment interventions by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians. We utilize evidence-supported treatments such as CBT and medications, and work closely with parents and the school to coordinate the treatment plan.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
After an evaluation and depending on the severity of the anxiety disorder, treatment for anxiety disorders typically begins with individual or family cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or a combination of CBT and medication. Research in the area of anxiety disorders treatment consistently supports CBT as the form of psychotherapy most effective for treating all of the anxiety disorders either with or without medication. The staff of the Pediatric Stress and Anxiety Disorders Clinic is skilled in this approach.
Treatment for childhood anxiety disorders in the PSADC includes:
- Psychoeducation with the child and parents about the illness and CBT;
- Parent training to establish daily structure, expectations, positive reinforcement, consequence, and monitoring;
- Involvement of parents in the treatment process, especially when parental anxiety is present, and consideration of independent treatment of parental anxiety disorders;
- Case management and support that includes contact with the school;
- Medication either alone or combined with CBT for concentrated symptom reduction in a severely impaired child or when there are minimal results from CBT and potential for improved outcome with growth; and
- A combination of several intensive treatments to achieve a decrease of symptoms and improved functioning in older youths and in the presence of comorbid depression or social withdrawal.
Services Offered by PSADC
- Diagnostic Evaluation
- Individual Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Treatment with Medications
- Parent Guidance
- Family Therapy
- School Consultations
- Community Education
- Professional Consultations
Contact Information
For more information or to schedule an evaluation, please call the Pediatric Stress and Anxiety Disorders Clinic at 312-355-0194.
|
