Thanks to the advances in medical care and scientific research, we’re getting closer to defining the circumstances surrounding early anxiety found in children and young adults. Just a few decades ago, we weren’t even aware of how brain mechanisms correlate with symptoms of anxiety.

Below are just a few data points about new research and studies related to children and anxiety, as well as some predictions we can make about research in the future.

Facts and figures related to youth anxiety
1. 25.1% of children between the age of 13 and 18 have an anxiety disorder.

2. Symptoms of anxiety typically emerge around the age of 6.

3. On average, approximately 20% of children that develop an anxiety disorder have received mental health care.

4. During developmental stages, girls are more at risk for developing anxiety disorders than boys.

5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Some researchers have even found that behavioral therapy geared toward social anxiety can be more effective than medication.

Predictions about anxiety in children
1. Scientists are studying ways to predetermine children who are at risk for PTSD by studying genetic factors and hormone levels related to child development.

2. Brain scans and molecular biology are being implemented to determine how anxiety disorders specifically affect brain mechanisms. This would allow healthcare professionals to effectively diagnose people who are at risk for mental health disorders, allowing early treatment for children.