Evaluating Parenting Styles and Child Temperament Associated With Child Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are among the most common childhood disorders. Although anxiety is a
normal part of life and growing up, for some children this anxiety becomes chronic,
relentless, and progressively worse if left untreated. Physical symptoms typically accompany
the intense anxiety caused by the disorder, and may include blushing, profuse sweating,
trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are
available, and research continues to yield new, improved therapies that can help most people
with anxiety disorders to lead productive, fulfilling lives. This study will look at
similarities and differences in family processes and child temperament among children with
and without symptoms of anxiety disorders. Results from this study may improve future
treatment of children with anxiety disorders.

Families participating in this observational study will be mailed parent and child
questionnaires that should be completed prior to the first study session. The child
questionnaires will ask for information regarding the child's feelings and family
interactions. Parent questionnaires will ask for information about their own personal
feelings as well as the child's feelings, symptoms, and behaviors. Study participation will
last 2 days. On the first day of the study, families will undergo a 3-hour diagnostic
interview in which questions similar to those found on the questionnaires will be revisited.
On the second day, mothers and their children will participate in three different
observation tasks that explore how families interact and respond to certain situations.
These tasks may include discussing certain anxiety-provoking situations, putting puzzles
together, and creating an ending to a story. Before each task, the child will be placed
alone in a separate room where the child will be asked to relax. Throughout the tasks, the
child's heart rate and breathing will be recorded by a machine. The tasks will be videotaped
but will be viewed only by research staff for data analysis purposes and to ensure that all
safety procedures were followed. Upon study completion, if it appears that a child has an
anxiety disorder, parents of the child will be notified and will receive treatment referrals
as needed.

Inclusion Criteria for Children:

- English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria Children:

- Mental retardation

- Current or past diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders

- Current or past diagnosis of psychotic disorders