Clonidine challenge in childhood anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are common in nonreferred children (prevalence 5% to 10%) (Anderson and McGee, 1994; Kashani and Orvaschel, 1990) and in pediatric primary care samples (incidence 15.4%) (Benjamin et al., 1990). Morbidity from anxiety disorder is considerable and includes poor school achievement, psychosocial difficulties, and increased risk for depression, suicide, and substance abuse (Ialongo et al., 1994; Keller and Baker, 1992). The most common anxiety problems of middle childhood excluding simple phobias are separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and overanxious disorder (Bernstein ...