Identification and Treatment of Anxiety in Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders: A Review of the Literature

Anxiety affects school achievement, yet it is rarely targeted for intervention in students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). This review of the literature summarizes existing research on (1) the prevalence of anxiety disorders in students with EBD, (2) the academic effects of anxiety disorders, and (3) the school interventions designed to ameliorate them. We offer conclusions regarding the state of educational intervention for these students. The review also highlights the scarcity of studies related to anxiety in students with EBD. Past research has focused primarily on students in general education settings, on prevalence within the general population, and on measuring psychosocial symptoms, rather than on academic achievement. We comment on the relevance of these findings to the field of EBD, and discuss implications for further research.