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School Refusal (cont.)

Next Steps

Consultation with a pediatric neurologist, a doctor who specializes in treating and diagnosing nervous system disorders in children, should be performed to rule out seizure disorder. This consultation should be done prior to treatment with medication if the child's pediatrician suspects seizure disorder. Consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist should be performed both for psychopharmacologic interventions as well as for confirmation of the diagnosis of school refusal. The consultation should also determine if other comorbid disorders (2 or more disorders existing at the same time) require treatment and provide a comprehensive treatment plan. The psychiatrist can also conduct the therapy or refer the patient to a psychotherapist for this treatment.



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Anxiety Disorder: Separation Anxiety and School Refusal »

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), separation anxiety is a fairly common anxiety disorder that consists of excessive anxiety beyond that expected for the child's developmental level related to separation or impending separation from the attachment figure (eg, primary caretaker, close family member) occurring in children younger than 18 years and lasting for at least 4 weeks.

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