FREQUENCY AND COMORBIDITY OF ANXIETY DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS - RESULTS OF THE BREMER-JUGENDSTUDIE

This report presents data from the first investigation wave of the 'Br emer Jugendstudie' on the frequency and comorbidity of anxiety disorde rs in a group of adolescents aged 12-17 years. Anxiety disorders occur red frequently in our sample of adolescents, with a rate of 18,6%. Whe n considering the subtypes of anxiety disorders, phobia was the most c ommon. Posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, p anic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder occurred less frequentl y. Anxiety disorders were significantly higher in girls than in boys, and that the rates increased with age. Comorbidity occurs quite freque ntly, both within the anixiety disorders and with other psychiatric di sorders; the most common pattern of comorbidity was that of anxiety an d depressive disorders. We conclude by discussing some research priori ties in the area of anxiety disorders in children an adolescents.