Separation Anxiety

• Separation Anxiety Overview
• Separation Anxiety Causes
• Separation Anxiety Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Questions to Ask the Doctor
• Exams and Tests
• Separation Anxiety Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Other Therapy
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Separation Anxiety Overview

Separation anxiety is a fairly common anxiety disorder that affects children and young adolescents. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), a child with separation anxiety experiences recurrent excessive anxiety beyond that expected for the child's developmental level. This anxiety results from separation or impending separation from the child's attachment figure (eg, primary caretaker, close family member). As defined, this condition affects children younger than 18 years and occurs over a period of at least 4 weeks.

Characteristic features of separation anxiety disorder include severe distress, fear, or worry leading to impairment of functioning and frequently accompanied by somatic symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches (see Outlook).