Differential characteristics of anxiety syndromes in clinical adolescents

Abstract

Aims. To identify the differential predictors of three main child psychiatric anxiety disorders using personality, attitudinal, coping and stress variables. Methods. The Hungarian adapted versions of 1) JTCI using four temperament and three character traits, 2) the brief DAS of Burns, 3) the Ways of Coping questionnaire of Lazarus and Folkmann, and 4) the JHLES were administered to 498 14- to 18-year -old youths drawn from 5 Hungarian regional child and adolescent outpatient facilities. 3 anxiety disorders were chosen assessed by MINI Plus questionnaire. Seeking differential predictors between the syndromes a 2 dtep logistic regression was performed. Results. The main predictors of Panic-agoraphobia were harm-avoidance and autonomy/outward control,the differential characteristics regarding Social phobia were HA and lack of persistence coupled with avoidance of risky problem solving. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)showed only HA again as an important predictor distinguishing GAD from the other anxiety syndromes. Stresses and suicidal factors had no differentiating role between the disorders. Conclusions. A few but signifcant differential predictors were found distinguishing Panic-agoraphobic patients,social phobics and those suffering from GAD from one another.There are only few specifc predictive risk factors evident as essentially differing within anxiety syndromes. © Versita Sp. z o.o.