Kids ages 8 and up should be screened for anxiety, U.S. health panel recommends

Earlier this week the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended that primary care physicians screen all children ages 8 to 18 for anxietyregardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

This is the first time the panel of medical experts has provided this guidance.

He also reaffirmed that children ages 12 to 18 should be screened for depression, guidance he has provided in previous years.

Between 2016 and 2019, between 5.7 and 2.8 million children were diagnosed with anxiety and depression, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This USPSTF move is intended to detect and treat these disorders early on.

“For older children and adolescents, screening and follow-up care may reduce symptoms of depression and may improve and potentially resolve anxiety.” the statement says.

“However, there is very limited evidence on the benefits and harms of assessing anxiety in children under 8 years of age and depression in children under 12 years of age.”

Anxiety and depression are often detected at school after they have affected a child’s performance, says Irina Gorelik, a child psychologist at the Williamsburg Therapy Group.

A primary care doctor might be better equipped to “detect signs and symptoms that may be harder to see earlier,” he says.

Some signs that a child may have anxiety, says Gorelik, include seeking constant reassurance about their safety. For example, they may repeatedly ask a parent, “Am I going to be okay?” before going to a sleepover.

Anxiety can present as an illogical illness, such as constant nausea or stomach aches.

For many kids, big life transitions like moving schools or a divorce can also trigger anxiety.

The new recommendation could help lessen the embarrassment children may feel about being diagnosed with anxiety.

“Screening all children can help minimize stigma around mental health issues and help drive conversations around support,” says Gorelik.