Treatment for Anxiety in Children

The purpose of this study is to see if it is effective to treat children with anxiety disorders with fluvoxamine. Fluvoxamine has been successfully used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. Anxiety disorders other than OCD, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety, are very common in youth and are not always responsive to behavioral therapies alone. These disorders may respond to fluvoxamine. A child will be evaluated for 3 weeks before he/she is assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to receive either fluvoxamine or an inactive placebo for 8 weeks. After this double-blind phase (neither the child/parents nor the doctor know which treatment is being given), the child will have the option of continuing treatment during a 4-month open-label extension period (both the child/parents and the doctor know which the child is receiving). A child may be eligible for this study if he/she: Is 6 to 17 years old and has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety).

To evaluate fluvoxamine in the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Fluvoxamine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is FDA-approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. Anxiety disorders other than OCD are very common in youth and are not always responsive to psychosocial therapies. Fluvoxamine is an alternative treatment. After a 3-week period of evaluation, patients meeting study entry criteria are randomized to receive either fluvoxamine or placebo for 8 weeks. After this double-blind phase, patients can enter a 4-month open-label extension.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Separation Anxiety

Adolescence, Anxiety Disorders, Child, Female, Fluvoxamine, Human, Male, Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors, Anxiety Disorders -- *drug therapy, Fluvoxamine -- *therapeutic use, Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors -- *therapeutic use

- Patients must have: DSM -IV diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety.

Fluvoxamine for the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. The Research Unit on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Anxiety Study Group. N Engl J Med. 2001 Apr 26;344(17):1279-85. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200104263441703.

Coyle JT. Drug treatment of anxiety disorders in children. N Engl J Med. 2001 Apr 26;344(17):1326-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200104263441711. No abstract available.