Children Who are Anxious in Silence: A Review on Selective Mutism, the New Anxiety Disorder in DSM-5

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
Peter Muris, Thomas H Ollendick

Abstract

Selective mutism (SM) is a relatively rare childhood disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific settings (e.g., school, social situations) despite speaking normally in other settings (e.g., at home). The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) lists SM among the anxiety disorders. This makes sense as the current review of the literature confirms that anxiety is a prominent symptom in many children suffering from this condition. Further, research on the etiology and treatment of SM also corroborates the conceptualization of SM as an anxiety disorder. At the same time, critical points can be raised regarding the classification of SM as an anxiety disorder. We explore a number of such issues in this review. Recommendations for dealing with this diagnostic conundrum are made for psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health workers who face children with SM in clinical practice, and directions for future research are highlighted.

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Citations

Dec 2, 2015·Journal of Communication Disorders·Rachele A Diliberto, Christopher A Kearney
May 18, 2016·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·Peter MurisUNKNOWN International Child and Adolescent Anxiety Assessment Expert Group (ICAAAEG)
Mar 14, 2016·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Angelika GensthalerChristina Schwenck
Nov 8, 2016·Journal of Affective Disorders·Luis-Joaquin Garcia-LopezGema Fuentes-Rodriguez
Nov 23, 2017·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·Rachele Diliberto, Christopher A Kearney
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Jan 23, 2018·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Beate OerbeckHanne Kristensen
Jan 22, 2020·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·Cathy CreswellJennie Hudson
Oct 28, 2019·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·Jim DriessenMarc L Molendijk
Apr 12, 2017·Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology·Ahmed Naguy
Jul 17, 2018·Assessment·Angelika GensthalerChristina Schwenck
Jul 6, 2020·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Kristie L PooleLouis A Schmidt
Dec 29, 2015·Current Opinion in Pediatrics·Alexandra Hua, Nili Major
Jan 27, 2019·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Felix VogelChristina Schwenck
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Jul 28, 2019·Journal of Anxiety Disorders·Rosalind CatchpoleTamara Salih
Jan 20, 2021·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review·Peter Muris, Thomas H Ollendick
Feb 25, 2021·Psychology Research and Behavior Management·Peter Muris, Thomas H Ollendick
Apr 25, 2021·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Christina SchwenckJulia Stahl
Jun 29, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Christopher A Kearney, Melanie Rede
Jul 16, 2021·Child: Care, Health and Development·Sophie Y SteainsNicola S Schutte
Dec 7, 2021·Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry·Yi Ren TanSharon C Sung

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