Separation anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in children and are often under-recognized. Untreated anxiety disorders in children can significantly affect the quality of life. They can lead to comorbid psychiatric conditions and interfere with social, emotional and academic development, including in adulthood. Separation anxiety disorder is one of the most common childhood anxiety disorders. It involves an exaggeration of the anxiety typical for the developmental process and is manifested by excessive distress at separation from the attachment figure or family environment. The etiology of separation anxiety disorder points to the interaction of biological and environmental factors, particularly the family environment in early childhood. Diagnostic criteria for SAD are provided by DSM-V and are used in the comprehensive assessment of the disorder, in combination with other internationally validated assessment tools. The diagnosis provides essential information for the elaboration of the therapeutic approach by the clinical specialists. In this sense, there are conclusive data on the effectiveness of combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy to achieve lasting results. Furthermore, the importance of coordinating inter-professional efforts is essential for the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach to TAS.