1. Separation Anxiety Disorder
Estefany Lezama
Psychology
Period 4

2. What is separation anxiety disorder?
It is a disorder only diagnosed in children
Definition:
-A childhood disorder characterized by intense and inappropriate anxiety lasting at least four weeks, concerning separation from home or care givers.

3. Associated features
Recurring behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in children with separation anxiety disorder are:
Clinging to parents
Panicking when they leave home
Becoming anti-social
Lack of concentration
They think people don’t care about them or love them
Feel sad
Afraid

4. Diagnostic criteria for 309.21 Separation Anxiety Disorder
A. Developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from those to whom the individual is attached, as evidenced by three (or more) of the following:
· recurrent excessive distress when separation from home or major attachment figures occurs or is anticipated
· persistent and excessive worry about losing, or about possible harm befalling, major attachment figures
· persistent and excessive worry that an untoward event will lead to separation from a major attachment figure (e.g. getting lost or kidnapped)
· reluctance or refusal to go to school or elsewhere because of fear of separation
· persistently and excessively fearful or reluctant to be alone or without major attachment figures at home or without significant adults in other settings
· persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep without being near a major attachment figure or to sleep away from home
· repeated nightmares involving the theme of separation
· repeated complaints of physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or vomiting) when separation from major attachment figures occurs or is anticipated

5. continuation B. The duration of the disturbance is at least 4 weeks.
C. The onset is before age 18 years.
D. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, academic (occupational), or other important areas of functioning.
E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder and, in adolescents and adults, is not better accounted for by Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia.

6. Etiology causes include: Disturbed childhoods or environments
Also if a child’s mother has panic disorder then the child is most likely to have Separation anxiety disorder which is known as first- degree biological
Going through some life stress when losing a relative, a pet or even moving homes, school or immigrating to another country

7. Prevalence The disorder is only diagnosed in children
The early onset is before the age of 6
Only 4% of children including adolescents have it
Although it is equally possible for both male and females to have it, females are the one’s who frequently have it.
It is more common during childhood years rather than during adolescence

8. Treatment
Psychotherapies are the typical form of treating a separation anxiety disorder
One of the forms used is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy
With this form children are taught to recognize their feelings, reactions, and see that anxiety is caused by separation
They are also taught to form a way of coping with any separation situations, but they also have to see what form helps them
The treatment also involves therapies with the child’s parents and have proven to be effective
In some cases medication is prescribed to reduce the anxiety but in severe cases

9. Prognosis The disorder is estimated to last about 4 weeks
The earlier it is diagnosed the more successful treatment is
It causes impairment and distress in a person’s social, academic (occupational) life
It causes frustration, conflict, and resentment within families
It can lead to a dysthymia disorder, major depressive disorder or to a panic disorder with agoraphobia

10. Discussion Questions:
What are some real life examples of how their social and education life are affected?
How can a parent help prevent a separation disorder on their child?

11. Reference
American Psychiatric Association.(2000).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association. Grohol, J.(16oct.2012).Separation anxiety disorder symptoms. Retrieved from Halgin, R. P. & Whitbourne, S.K. (2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill