GAD-2 Offers Quick Anxiety Screening for Children with Headaches or Epilepsy

Source: Pediatric neurology

Summary

Researchers studied how well two different questionnaires, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), can identify anxiety symptoms in children who have headaches or epilepsy. The study involved a large group of children during their follow-up visits at a neurology clinic. Out of over 6,000 visits, the GAD-7 was completed by about 4,000 children, allowing the researchers to compare the effectiveness of both tools.

The findings showed that both questionnaires were very similar in identifying anxiety symptoms. The GAD-2, which is shorter and easier to complete, was able to correctly identify most children with moderate to severe anxiety. Specifically, a score of 3 or higher on the GAD-2 indicated a high likelihood of anxiety, with a very good accuracy rate. However, using the GAD-2 would mean that some children with moderate to severe anxiety, including a small number with severe anxiety, might not be identified.

This study is important because it suggests that the GAD-2 could be a useful tool in busy clinical settings, making it easier for children to be screened for anxiety without overwhelming them with too many questions. However, the limitation is that while the GAD-2 can help many children, it may miss some who need support, particularly those with more severe anxiety. Therefore, while it can reduce the burden of lengthy questionnaires, careful consideration is needed to ensure that all children who need help are identified.

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