Health & Parenting

Combined Treatment Best for Kids Who Skip School

Vital Information:

• Refusal to go to school is a relatively common occurrence, affecting one out of every 100 children and adolescents. In depressed or anxious kids, that number is much higher -- as high as one in four, and in some cases even greater, experts say.
• A new study shows that behavioral therapy in combination with medication can help these adolescents return to school, but depression may persist.
• Researchers encourage parents to seek help, find out why the child doesn't want to go to school, and try therapy before using a medication.