A leading panel of doctors has recommended all American children over the age of eight to be screened for anxiety – even if they do not have symptoms.
The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), clonazepam online one of the most influential bodies in American health care, issued the new guidelines on Tuesday.
It also is pushing for doctors to screen all children over the age of 12 for no matter their reported symptoms.
The group believes cases are going undiagnosed because of a shortage in physicians and a spike in mental health problems following the pandemic.
Just last month the same panel recommended that all adults aged 18 to 65 receive a screening for both conditions.
If doctors were to follow the recommendations of the task force it would involve checking at least 200million Americans.
Experts have expressed concerns over these recommendations, fearing it could lead to an over-medicated population and another opioid-like crisis.
The most common anxiety medications fall into the class of benzodiazepines, with highly addictive drugs like Xanax, Klomopin, and Valium.
A leading panel of US doctors now recommends all children over the age of eight to be screened for anxiety and all over 12 to be screened for depression. Some experts fear these screenings could spur addiction to anti-anxiety medication (file photo)
Dr Matha Kubik, a member of the USPSTF and nursing professor at George Mason University, said: ‘The Task Force reviewed the evidence on screening for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk to provide primary care professionals with guidance on how they can help support the mental health of children and adolescents.
‘Fortunately, screening older children for anxiety and depression can identify these conditions so children and teens can receive the care that they need.’