Summary of Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the Melbourne Children's Campus Mental Health Strategy.

Anxiety in Children and Young People

Melbourne Children's Campus Mental Health Strategy

Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Recommendation Grading

Name	Acronym	Explanation
Evidence-based recommendations	EBR	Recommendations formulated from discussion of the research evidence, where a systematic search and evidence review was conducted, and evidence was identified and analysed.
Clinical consensus recommendations	CCR	Recommendations formulated by the expert panel in the absence of research evidence, where a systematic search was conducted and evidence was not identified or was of insufficient quality/quantity; or where there is known to be little high-quality evidence, in which case evidence was not sought, and the Guideline Development Group (GDG) formulated recommendations based on clinical expertise and experience.
Clinical practice points	CPP	Recommendations where the subject matter is outside of the scope of a systematic search were formulated from discussions held by an expert panel.

Document Overview

Document Title: Anxiety in Children and Young People

Authoring Society: Melbourne Children's Campus Mental Health Strategy

Endorsing Society: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Document Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: Australia

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: mentalhealth.melbournechildrens.com/media/iqhbmjdx/anxiety-cpg-version-11-sept-2024-racgp-endorsed-1.pdf

Source Citation: Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy Anxiety Guideline Development Group, Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline for Anxiety in Children and Young People (V.1.1), Melbourne Children’s; 2024.

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Quick Reference Flowchart

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based guidance about the identification, assessment, and management of anxiety in children and young people to ensure optimal, consistent care. The recommendations are derived from discussion of the research evidence among multidisciplinary health professionals, researchers, children, young people, and their caregivers with lived and living experience.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Counseling, Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D001007 - Anxiety

D002654 - Child Care

D000067576 - Child Health

D002665 - Child Psychiatry

D001007 - Anxiety

D002654 - Child Care

D000067576 - Child Health

D002665 - Child Psychiatry

Keywords: Child psychiatry, anxiety, childhood anxiety

Target Patient Population: Children and young people with anxiety or suspected anxiety

Target Provider Population: Clinicians and other professionals involved in the care of children and young people with anxiety

Inclusion Criteria: Male, Female, Adolescent, Child

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Childcare Center, School

Intended Users: Athletics/Coaching, Counselor, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant, Psychologist

Anxiety in Children and Young People

Summary of Recommendations

Identification

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

Assessment

2.1

2.1.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

Care planning

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

Making initial treatment choices

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

Psychological therapy

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.3.1

5.3.2

5.4

5.4.1

5.4.2

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.7.1

5.8

5.9

5.10

Medication

6.1

6.2

6.2.1

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

6.10

6.11

6.12

6.12.1

6.13

6.13.1

6.14

6.14.1

6.14.2

6.15

Care review and monitoring progress

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

7.7

Recommendation Grading

Document Overview

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases