Separation anxiety disorder
Developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety about separation from attachment figures.
How it presents
excessive distress when separated, worry about losing/family harm, reluctance to be alone, school refusal, nightmares about separation, ≥4 weeks in children
Tell it apart from
- School refusal due to other causes
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Agoraphobia
Treatment reasoning
CBT with graduated exposure, parent training, gradual return to school; SSRIs if severe.