A 10-year-old girl is brought to her pediatrician by her father for frequent headaches beginning six weeks ago. The patient has been late to school because of the headaches, and subsequently the father has been late to work. Two months ago, the patient’s mother moved out of the family home. The father reports that his daughter has been texting him from school multiple times a day to check in, and her teachers have noticed that she seems distracted during class activities. When interviewed in the presence of her father, the patient reports that she has been feeling worried because she is concerned that her father is going to get into a car accident on the way to work and die.
Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for this child?
- A) Antipsychotics
- B) Cognitive behavioral therapy
- C) Dialectical behavioral therapy
- D) Exposure therapy
- E) Serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Authors
Miles McIntosh
Editor
Dr. Ted O'Connell
