Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem affecting children and are the primary reason that they are referred to a mental health professional. Anxiety is highly treatable. Ninety percent of people treated for anxiety disorders recover fully. Various forms of anxiety disorders include Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Anxiety Checklist for Parents describes some symptoms typical of children with an anxiety disorder.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders treated by our specialty team include dysthymia and depression. Signs of dysthymia or depression may include depressed or sad mood, irritability, changes in eating or sleeping habits, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fatigue, lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities, difficulty concentrating, and/or thoughts of death and dying. Programs and research studies are currently ongoing for children for overcoming shyness and social anxiety. Some of the specific cognitive behavioral treatment programs offered at the NYU Child Study Center include:

• Help for Shy or Socially Anxious Teenagers (pdf)
• Coping Kids! Involves both individual and family sessions for children and adolescents presenting with generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and multiple phobic disorders.
• Treatments of Adolescent Depression Study is a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication in the treatment of adolescent depression. Eligible youth receive free treatment and follow-up care over a 2-year period.
• Emotion Management Training is a school based program for the treatment of anxiety and depression and prevention of substance abuse in high school youth.

Research and clinical staff offer diagnostic evaluation, medication, and cognitive-behavioral treatment programs on Anxiety and Mood Disorders for children, adolescents, and young adults suffering from anxiety and mood disorders.

Vilma Gabbay, M.D., supervises medical aspects of research and clinical services on Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program. She is also an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Gabbay's research focuses on the role of neuroplasticity in pediatric major depressive disorder. In addition, she studies the relationship between immune system activation and cellular resilience, and is currently exploring alternative therapeutic treatment methods for adolescent depression, including a dietary supplement of omega-3 fatty acids. Dr. Gabbay's research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Tourette's Syndrome Association.

Carrie Masia Warner, Ph.D. holds an appointment as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating innovative, valid approaches for the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Dr. Masia Warner developed a school-based intervention for social anxiety disorder, "Skills for Social and Academic Success."

For more information on the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program, please visit the NYU Child Study Center at www.aboutourkids.org. To learn more about Anxiety or Mood Disorders, please visit the Disorders’ Guide on the NYU Child Study Center web site.

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