Psychiatric comorbidities among adolescents with and without anxiety disorders: a community study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate, in a community sample of adolescents, the presence of comorbidities in different anxiety disorders. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, initially composed of 2,457 adolescents, aged between 10-17 years old, from public schools of the area covered by the Basic Health Unit of a university hospital. We applied the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) to assess for anxiety disorders. Then, 138 positive cases in the screening were assessed for mental disorders through the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Results Patients with anxiety disorders had more association with other anxiety disorders, as well as depression, and enuresis. The most common comorbidity described in our study was between generalized anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder (OR = 4.21, 95% CI 1.88, 9.58). Significant association was observed between other disorders such as enuresis and separation anxiety disorder (OR = 3.81, 95% CI 1.16, 12.49), as well as depression and generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 3.40; 95% CI 1.52, 7.61). Conclusion Our study showed a relevant presence of comorbidities adolescents with anxiety disorders, selected from a community sample, especially regarding other anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

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“…The impact of anxiety experienced by adolescents affects various aspects of life, such as affects thought processes, perceptions and learning so that it can reduce the ability to focus attention, reduce memory, and ability in association (Pangastuti, 2014). Adolescents experiencing anxiety problems can be associated with low self-esteem, developmental difficulties at school (such as absence and poor school performance), as well as disruptive behavior disorders (Silva Júnior & Gomes, 2015;Mathyssek, 2014).…”

The Effectiveness of Coloring in Reducing Anxiety and Improving PWB in Adolescents

“…The impact of anxiety experienced by adolescents affects various aspects of life, such as affects thought processes, perceptions and learning so that it can reduce the ability to focus attention, reduce memory, and ability in association (Pangastuti, 2014). Adolescents experiencing anxiety problems can be associated with low self-esteem, developmental difficulties at school (such as absence and poor school performance), as well as disruptive behavior disorders (Silva Júnior & Gomes, 2015;Mathyssek, 2014).…”