Johns Hopkins Health - Fall 2008 - (Page 6) A nxiety is on the rise in c h i ldren. i dentifying A nd t r e At i n g i t eAr ly c An Avo i d b ig p ro bl ems l At er o n anxious All in the Family research shows compelling evidence that anxiety has a genetic basis, which means that children of anxious parents are at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders. A Johns hopkins study showed that family-based preventive interaction helps. if you’re a parent with a history of anxiety who is interested in participating in a similar study, please call 410-955-1544. g e t t i ng W hen he was barely 7, one boy brooded about death and worried that his grave might not be alongside his mother’s. Then he refused to ride the bus and dreaded the beginning of the school week. another boy, age 13, went to the er twice with panic attacks, complained of headaches and stomachaches, and compulsively checked his heart rate because he was concerned about overexerting himself. In both cases, the parents were confounded, left searching for a cause and wondering, “where is this coming from?” but in the vast and complex spectrum of childhood anxiety disorders, that kind of thinking is futile, says Johns hopkins child psychologist Golda Ginsburg, Ph.D. In fact, parents may create their own anxiety trying to figure it out. | 6 | johns hopkins health fall 2008 hopkinsmedicine.org http://hopkinsmedicine.org
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