Seperation Anxiety Disorder Treatment Options

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Seperation Anxiety Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Separation anxiety is an expected and normal response in young children when separated from parents, caregivers or safe environments. However, when the anxiety occurs at older ages and exceeds the normal, expected level for the child's age to the point of interfering with normal functioning, the problem requires special attention. Children with separation anxiety disorder are deprived of the normal experiences of the childhood stage and can develop additional problems that can affect their future life.

Some of the problems triggered by separation anxiety disorder include: social isolation and detachment from others (because children perceive their fears as unusual and different), other anxiety disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder), and difficulties developing healthy relationships (because these individuals learn to not trust and feel secure around others). Therefore, treatment is essential in avoiding further complication.

Separation anxiety disorder treatment focuses on helping the child to reduce and keep under control their fears and enjoy a normal life for their age where interaction with the surrounding environment and people outside the home and family is essential. However, children cannot comprehend the severity of their problem and do not have the capacity to understand that their problem can be treated, therefore the responsibility relies on parents. Parents can have access to resources that educate them about the disorder and where they can find professional help.

There are two major treatment approaches for children with separation anxiety disorder: psychotherapy and medication.

I. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a treatment approach that may focus only on the child through such approaches as cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and group therapy, or on the entire family, such as family therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short term therapy with effective results in children with separation anxiety disorder. The goal of this form of therapy is to restructure the child's pattern of thoughts and actions and implement more assertive and adaptive behavioral and cognitive skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy uses systematic desensitization, exposure, cognitive restructuring, and role-playing techniques to reduce the symptoms. Children learn to identify negative thoughts that trigger and maintain the anxiety, to develop new, positive thoughts and to implement more adaptive behaviors.

Play therapy is another form of psychotherapy used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. It is developed for children age 3 to 11 and involves using toys, puppets, and games to help the child express their experience and feelings.

Group therapy is another form of therapy used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Group therapy brings together children with similar problems and encourages them to share their experiences and practice new behaviors in a safe environment.

Family therapy is a form of therapy designed for the entire family, where parents learn to play an active role in their child's rehabilitation. During family therapy, parents are being educated about their child's disorder and learn effective parenting skills to cope with certain situations.

II. Medication

Medication is prescribed for those children that display persistent symptoms, moderate to severe functional impairments, and do not respond to psychotherapy. The FDA has not approved a specific medication to treat children with separation anxiety disorder.

Controlled studies have reported good results when anti-depressant medication is prescribed. Some of the anti-depressants prescribed for children with separation anxiety disorder include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. However, some results may be noticed after 2 to 4 weeks of treatment, but in order to know whether the treatment is effective for each particular individual, it requires at least 12 weeks of treatment. Some of the most prescribed antidepressant are: Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.

When children are treated with medication, the results require time, can be accompanied by side effects, and unfortunately, the symptoms are reduced but not eliminated.

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Source:

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Medline Plus, Separation Anxiety, February 2009
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Separation Anxiety Disorder, May 2003 (1)