Objectives: There is significant paucity of studies on the impairment associated with Anxiety Disorders (AD) among adolescents. This study focuses on the prevalence and pattern of impairment as well as impairment in the context of severity of AD, co-morbidities, suicide, age and gender in this population.
Methods: In a prospective community survey of 500 adolescents, independent raters administered the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children/Present and Lifetime to collect the required data. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were done to evaluate the prevalence and profile of impairment, compare the impairment among different types of AD, severity of AD, number of co-morbidities, age and gender on impairment, effect of impairment on the need for suicide prevention.
Results: Impairment in adolescents with AD was a rule, noted in 94.4%. Irrespective of the type of AD diagnosed, impairment at home was significant in adolescents with AD. The presentation of impairment among different Anxiety Disorders was different with different functional settings. Severity of AD and the number of co-morbidities was related to the impairment. Need for suicide related interventions were not different in those with and without impairment. Age and gender did not influence the presence of impairment.
Conclusions: Anxiety Disorders among adolescents in India result in significant functional impairment. Clinically, in this population assessment of impairment is required. Community policies and plans should have special management strategy to address impairment in adolescents with Anxiety Disorders.