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This disorder revolves around a child's fear of separation from "major attachment figures." These figures usually include, of course, parents, grandparents, and older siblings. Children with this disorder become very anxious when they are separated, or worried about separation, from their authority figures. They may refuse to sleep alone, worry that something will happen to their parents or themselves, refuse to go to school, or sneak back home after being left there. They may also have headaches, stomachaches, or other physical symptoms to avoid separation, or as a result of it. This
disorder cannot be diagnosed after age 18, must endure for at least
4 weeks before diagnosis, and, as with all disorders, must cause
significant distress or impairment and not be better accounted for
by some other diagnosis. Children with separation anxiety usually
improve as they get older, but it may persist for years if
untreated. Treatments may include drugs and cognitive-behavioral or
behavioral therapy. |
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