Assessment of anxiety in young children.

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling conditions that can be identified in young children. Observations of infant temperament and attachment relationships have shown that certain early infant behaviors can be linked to later anxiety disorders. Research involving play narrative stories, pictures, cartoons, and puppets has demonstrated preliminary validity for new assessment methods of young children. Preliminary studies also have been conducted with new questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. Additional research is needed to refine these methods and to develop new comprehensive measures that focus specifically on different aspects of anxiety in young children.