Sections
Anxiety | Aggression | Akathisia | Adjunctive Treatment in Depression
Excerpt
In adults, controlled trials have shown that the beta-blockers
are effective for somatic symptoms of anxiety, such as tachycardia,
tremors, palpitations, and diaphoresis (Pollack 1999).
Based on this observation, propranolol has been used in the treatment
of performance anxiety, though the evidence supporting this application
is meager. Other anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, social
phobia, and specific phobias have not shown a positive response
to beta-blockers (Hidalgo et al. 2007). Although studies
in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) provide some support
for beta-blockers (Pitman et al. 2002), this strategy
has not been attempted in children. There are no placebo-controlled
studies of a beta-blocker in children for the treatment of anxiety.