Depression and Anxiety in Preschoolers: A Review of the Past 7 Years

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2017 Jul;26(3):503-522. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.02.006. Epub 2017 Mar 18.

Abstract

This article reviews recent empirical literature on the prevalence, correlates, assessment, and treatment of preschool-onset internalizing disorders. Major advances in the acceptance and recognition of both preschool-onset depression and anxiety have occurred over the past decade. This work has been greatly enhanced by the discovery of genetic, neural, and physiologic indicators, which further validate these constellations of symptoms in young children. Despite this growth in research, much work still needs to be done to further elucidate the cause, risk, treatment, and protective factors for preschool-onset internalizing disorders.

Keywords: Early onset; Mental disorder; Preschool anxiety; Preschool depression; Review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Anxiety Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Anxiety Disorders* / therapy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Depressive Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder* / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder* / physiopathology
  • Depressive Disorder* / therapy
  • Humans