Clonazepam in the treatment of prepubertal children with panic-like symptoms.

Three prepubertal children who suffered severe, incapacitating anxiety disorders with panic-like symptoms were treated successfully with clonazepam. The daily doses ranged from 0.5 to 3 mg. Symptoms were rapidly controlled after a therapeutic dose was attained, and no adverse effects were reported. The children were symptom-free at follow-up, which ranged from 5 months to 3 years. These three cases illustrate the diagnostic and therapeutic overlap between childhood and adult anxiety disorders and indicate the need for empirical studies aimed at evaluating diagnostic and treatment issues in childhood anxiety disorders.