Risk factors of anxiety disorders in children
Agnieszka Dąbkowska-Mika1, Małgorzata Dąbkowska2

Trauma in childhood disposes to further anxiety disorders through hyperreactivity of HPA axis and hypersecretion of CRF. Traumatic experience in developmental age leads to neurobiochemical changes in brain, typical for panic disorder or PTSD. Because of early trauma, there is change of genes, increasement of anxiety sensitivity. Serotoninergic drugs can partly restore proper neurobiological functioning of CNS. It is confirmed that insecure attachment in early childhood plays significant role in anxiety disorders in adolescents. Behavioural inhibition in early childhood is a predictor of further anxiety disorders. Some types of parental behaviours and family environment can lead to them, as well as improper interactions between parents and child. Genetic factors play significant role – anxiety disorders are two times as frequent in monozygotic as in dizygotic twins; they are more common among the firstdegree relatives. Quite often, there is a comorbidity of depression and anxiety disorders.