Although anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents, there is a paucity of research on the course and outcome of anxiety spectrum disorders in low and middle-income countries. 60 children and adolescents aged 6–16 years with anxiety spectrum disorders attending the child and adolescent psychiatry department in a tertiary care center from India were included after taking written informed consent and assent in this prospective study conducted between April 2012 to May 2014. Assessments were done at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks using pediatric anxiety rating scale, clinical global impression-severity, clinical global assessment scale and pediatric quality of life scale; MINI-KID (version 6.0) was used to examine remission status. Mean age of children was 12.68 years and mean duration of illness was 34.52 months. Follow-up rate at 24 weeks was 80% with a remission rate of 64.6%. Socio-demographic factors did not affect the baseline severity or course and outcome measures. Children with greater baseline severity and social phobia had a less favorable outcome at 24 weeks. Improvements made in the initial 12 weeks were maintained at 24 weeks follow up. These findings are in line with earlier studies from high-income countries. Small sample size, attrition, rater bias. The study has shown a favorable outcome in children and adolescents with anxiety spectrum disorders receiving treatment-as-usual in a tertiary care setting. Adolescents who present with greater severity, comorbid with other anxiety disorders and depression at baseline require intensive intervention, and long-term follow up. There is a need for interventional research with specific focus on universal preventive programs for anxiety spectrum disorders that are feasible for delivery in low and middle-income countries.

中文翻译：

---

小儿焦虑谱系障碍的有利短期病程和结果：来自印度的一项前瞻性研究

尽管焦虑症是儿童和青少年中最普遍的精神疾病，但对中低收入国家焦虑症谱系障碍的病程和结果的研究却很少。在 2012 年 4 月至 2014 年 5 月期间进行的这项前瞻性研究中，在获得书面知情同意和同意后，60 名 6-16 岁的患有焦虑症谱系障碍的儿童和青少年被纳入印度一家三级护理中心的儿童和青少年精神病科。评估结果为使用儿科焦虑评定量表、临床总体印象严重性、临床总体评估量表和儿科生活质量量表在基线、12 周和 24 周完成；MINI-KID（6.0 版）用于检查缓解状态。儿童的平均年龄为 12 岁。68岁，平均病程34.52个月。24周随访率为80%，缓解率为64.6%。社会人口因素不影响基线严重程度或过程和结果测量。基线严重程度和社交恐惧症较高的儿童在 24 周时的结果较差。最初 12 周的改善在 24 周的随访中得以维持。这些发现与高收入国家的早期研究一致。样本量小、流失、评估者偏差。该研究表明，患有焦虑症谱系障碍的儿童和青少年在三级护理机构中接受照常治疗的效果良好。表现更严重、在基线时合并其他焦虑症和抑郁症的青少年需要强化干预和长期随访。