Download Separation Anxiety Disorder

Areli Sandoval
Period 2
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Separation anxiety disorder is a psychological
condition in which an individual has excessive
anxiety regarding separation from home or from
people to whom the individual has a strong
emotional attachment (like a mother). Present in
all age groups, adult separation anxiety is now
believed to be even more common than
childhood separation anxiety.
[Thoughts, Feelings, & Behaviors]
 An unrealistic and lasting worry that something bad will
happen to the parent or caregiver if the child leaves.
 Refusal to go to school in order to stay with the caregiver.
 Refusal to go to sleep without the caregiver being nearby or
to sleep away from home.
 Fear of being alone.
 Bed Wetting.
 Complaints of physical symptoms, such as headaches and
stomachaches, on school days.
 Repeated nightmares involving separation.
 Worry that harm may befall important attachment figures or
that they will lose these people.
Separation anxiety symptom of a co-morbid
condition. Studies show that children suffering from
separation anxiety are much more likely to have
ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and others
later in life.
 Anxiety disorder is blanket term covering several
different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety,
fears, phobias and nervous conditions that are
described as an irrational or illogical worry that is not
based on fact. The term anxiety disorder can cover a
range of severities from general social anxieties to
panic disorders.

[DMS-IV-TR]

Phobia is a kind of anxiety that is also
defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-IV-TR)
as a “persistent or irrational fear.” Fear is
defined as an emotional and
physiological response to a recognized
external threat.
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[Potential Causes]
Separation anxiety often develops after a significant
stress or trauma in the child’s life, such as:
• stay in the hospital
• the death of a loved one
• change in the environment
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It usually ends when the child is around 2 years old. At
this age, toddlers begin to understand that parents may
be out of sight now, but will return later. There is also a
normal desire to test their independence.
To get over separation anxiety, children must:
• Feel save in their home environment
• Trust people other than their parents
• Trust that their parents will return


Separation anxiety affects approximately 4%-5%
of children in the U.S. ages 7-11 years. It is less
common in teen agers, affecting about 1.3% of
American teens and affects boys and girls
equally.
Anxiety disorders are often debilitating chronic
conditions, which can be present from an early
age or begin suddenly after a triggering event.
They are prone to flare up at times of high
stress.

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Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy is the
primary type of treatment used for separation
anxiety disorder.
There are a number of commonly used
treatments for separation anxiety disorder, most
of which focus on one or more types of
psychotherapy. As with most childhood issues,
the more likely the treatment will be successful.
That’s why it’s important to seek professional care
for your child if you suspect they might suffer
from this disorder.
For older children who have not outgrown
separation anxiety within the normal
developmental timetable or who have regressed to
it under stress.
 Effective treatments may include:

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Changes in parenting techniques
• Counseling for the parents and child

Treatments for severe cases may include:
• Family education
• Family therapy
• Individual psychotherapy
Over 60% of children participating with their
parents in cognitive behavioral treatment are
successful in managing their symptoms with out
medication.
 Separation anxiety disorder has a poorer
prognosis in environment where threat of
physical harm or separation actually exist.
 Existence of other conditions, such as autism,
decrease the like hood of a positive prognosis.
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
Halgin, R.P., & Whitbourne, S.K. (2005). Abnormal
Psychology Clinical Perspectives on Psychological
disorders. New York, NY: MC Grow Hill
 Myers, D.G. (2011). Myre’s psychology for ap. New
York, NY: Worth Publishers.
 Stafford B, Boris NW, Dalton R. Anxiety disorders.
In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton
BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed.
Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 24
 Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM,
Behram RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson of
Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadephia, Pa: Saunders
Elsevier; 2007:chap 8.
How does this type of anxiety can affect
people around us?
 Why should we see this important?
 What type of results did we notice?
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