STABILITY OF ANXIOUS SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN CHILDREN

The stability of anxiety states and symptoms was assessed in a sample of 150 anxious and nonanxious children. A number of assessment methods including a semistructured interview, self-report instruments, psycho physiological measures, and parental reports were used initially and a t intervals Lip to 6 months later: The majority of children with a dia gnosed anxiety disorder at the initial assessment still manifested sig nificant symptomatology at the 6 month follow-lip. However, stability of specific anxiety symptoms when assessed by self- and parental repor ts was mixed. With respect to psychophysiological assessment, stabilit y of responses was evident at 2 weeks bur riot after 6 months. Results are discussed in terms of the stability of diagnoses and symptomatolo gy, and the need for thematically relevant self-reports and behavioral assessment tasks. Recommendations are made for the development of a r eliable, multimethod strategy to assess the multiple domains of childh ood anxiety.