Current Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management of Selective Mutism in Children

Abstract

Peter Muris,1,2 Thomas H Ollendick3,4 1Department of Clinical Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; 2Departement Sielkunde, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; 3Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA; 4Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton London, London, UKCorrespondence: Peter MurisDepartment of Clinical Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The NetherlandsEmail [email protected]: Selective mutism (SM) is a childhood disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific social situations (eg, school) despite speaking normally in other settings (eg, at home). This article summarizes evidence supporting the recent classification of SM as an anxiety disorder and discusses the implications of this re-classification for the assessment and treatment of SM in clinical practice. Meanwhile, clinicians should also realize that SM sometimes is a heterogeneous disorder in which other problems are also present that complicate the management of children with SM. As examples, we discuss speech and language problems, developmental delay, and autism spectrum disorders.Keywords: selective mutism, anxiety disorder, assessment, treatment

Keywords

• selective mutism
• anxiety disorder
• assessment
• treatment.