Separation anxiety disorder

Treatment:

It is helpful for a parent to accompany the child during medical examinations or treatments whenever possible. When a parent cannot accompany the child, prior experience or exposure to the situation is helpful. When this is not possible, the child may display severe anxiety by crying, resisting, begging, screaming. When the necessity of separation from parents is necessary but prior exposure and experience is not possible or inadequate (such as surgical treatment), many physicians will recommend and offer the child mild sedating or tranquilizing medications to help reduce the trauma of separation and fear. It is always desirable to explain the situation and experience to the child and to assure him or her that a parent is waiting (explain where the parent is waiting).

Treatment for dysfunctional cases may include individual psychotherapy, family education and family therapy.

Expectations (prognosis):

Complications:

Calling your health care provider: