Assessment and Intervention for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care: A Systematic Review. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017) - Blossom, Jennifer B.
ABSTRACT: Children and adolescents face significant risk of experiencing psychological distress at some point in their lives, and anxiety disorders represent one of the most common psychological diagnoses for this age group. Concurrently, they may also face numerous barriers in accessing much needed services. Recent developments in health care, including mental health services, emphasize the need for proactive assessment and intervention for such concerns, with specific focus on the role of pediatric primary care. Early research in this area demonstrates support for the integration of psychological assessment and intervention in the primary care setting; however, little attention has been paid to anxiety assessment and intervention in pediatric primary care in particular. The current systematic review sought to synthesize and describe the current state of assessment and intervention for anxiety in pediatric primary care in order to inform current practice and provide recommendations for this prevalent and major public health concern. Nine hundred forty-two abstracts were reviewed for inclusion. To be included in the present review, studies must have conducted procedures within the primary care setting, provided information regarding the assessment and/or intervention procedures, be in English, and include a pediatric sample; the sample could not include a specialized medical or high-risk population. The final review includes 14 studies. A majority of the included studies discussed assessment of anxiety. Results revealed the necessity for continued work in this area, and specific recommendations are made.