Multidisciplinary Non-Pharmacological Intervention for a Young Anxious Child: A Case Report
Abstract
Although anxiety in children is prevalent in India, evidence regarding their divergent etiopathologies, and holistic intervention approaches are limited. In the present case of a child experiencing acute anxiety the influences of external environment on anxiety-symptomology and a family-centric therapy have been resorted to.The primary concerns of the six-year-old female included obsession over marks on the body, ritualistic behaviours (hand washing), specific fears (ghosts, selective foods and bathing) and situation-based aversions. The Children Apperception Test revealed fears about losing closed ones, injury from non-human forms and perception of environment as ‘anxiety provoking.’ Pre-intervention MR Spectroscopy highlighted slight reduction in N-acetyl aspartate levels which serve as biomarkers for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Parent and child counselling led to reduction of child’s anxiety symptoms and improvements in child-parent interaction. The coping plan developed by the child, parent and psychologist served as a tool to manage her anxiety in social settings other than home. The anxiety episodes completely subsided post intervention.The case report highlights the need to acknowledge and incorporate influences of psychosocial factors and parent-child dyad at all stages of mental health care delivery.
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