Treatment for Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children

Separation anxiety disorder is a normal phase of childhood development where a child feels anxious about separation from parents or leaving home. Most children 2 years of age or younger experience some form of this disorder; older children may experience it in response to a stressful life event, such as illness, moving homes, changing schools or the death of a loved one or pet. Most mild cases of separation anxiety do not require treatment, but moderate to severe cases--where the anxiety interferes with the child's ability to participate in normal activities--require treatment.

Treatment Considerations

• Treatment for moderate to severe cases of separation anxiety focuses on reducing the child's anxiety, educating the child and the family about sources of anxiety, developing the child's sense of security and helping both the child and family members understand that separation is natural. Ultimately, at any stage of development, to move beyond any form of separation anxiety, a child must feel safe in his home environment, must trust people other than his parents or primary caregivers and must believe that he will see his parents again if they part.

  Doctors or psychotherapists will develop a treatment plan that usually includes psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the child learns how his thoughts affect his behaviors and feelings, is usually a popular choice for treatment. Most treatment plans for separation anxiety involve parents and family members; this can include participation in individual or family therapy, as well as educating the family about how they can help support the anxious child.

  Medications are a rare treatment option, usually reserved for severe cases, and only in combination with individual, group or family therapy. Most drugs prescribed for separation anxiety disorder fall within either the anti-depressant or anti-anxiety types of drugs, both of which have side effects in children.