Separation anxiety disorder 243059 223589202 2008-07-04T19:35:00Z Ecrone 7213931 '''Separation anxiety''' is a [[psychology|psychological]] condition in which an individual has excessive [[anxiety]] regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has a strong emotional [[attachment]] (like a father and mother). Present in all age groups, adult separation anxiety disorder (affecting roughly 7% of adults) is more common than childhood separation anxiety disorder (affecting approximately 4% of children).<ref>[http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/13/30 Adult Separation Anxiety Often Overlooked Diagnosis - Arehart-Treichel 41 (13): 30 - Psychiatr News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/163/6/1074 Prevalence and Correlates of Estimated DSM-IV Child and Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication - Shear et al. 163 (6): 1074 - Am J Psychiatry<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Separation anxiety disorder is often characterized by some of the following symptoms: * Recurring distress when separated from the subject of attachment (such as significant other, the mother, or home) * Persistent, excessive worrying about losing the subject of attachment * Persistent, excessive worrying that some event will lead to separation from a major attachment * Excessive [[fear]] about being alone without subject of attachment * Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep without being near a major attachment figure, like a significant other or mother * Recurrent [[nightmare]]s about separation Often, separation anxiety disorder is a [[symptom]] of a [[co-morbid]] condition. Studies show that [[children]] suffering from separation anxiety disorder are much more likely to have [[ADHD]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[panic disorder]], and other disorders later in life.<ref>[http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59727&nfid=crss Link Between Separation Anxiety In Children And Subsequent Onset Of Panic Disorder In Adulthood, Testing The Hypothesis<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Separation Anxiety Disorder versus Separation Anxiety== Separation Anxiety Disorder should not be confused with Separation Anxiety, which occurs as "a normal stage of development for healthy, secure babies."<ref>[http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=993 Separation Anxiety - DrGreene.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Separation anxiety occurs as babies begin to understand their own selfhood&mdash;or understand that they are a separate person from their primary caregiver. At the same time, the concept of object permanence emerges&mdash;which is when children learn that something still exists when it is not seen or heard. As babies begin to understand that they can be separated from their primary [[caregiver]], they do not understand that their caregiver will return, nor do they have a concept of [[time]]. This, in turn, causes a normal and healthy anxious reaction. Separation anxiety typically onsets around 8 months of age and increased until 13-15 months, when it begins to decline<ref>Siegler, Robert (2006). How Childred Develop, Exploring Child Develop Student Media Tool Kit & Scientific American Reader to Accompany How Children Develop. New York: Worth Publishers. ISBN 0716761130.</ref>. == See also == *[[Stranger anxiety]] == References == {{refs}} {{Mental and behavioural disorders}} {{psych-stub}} [[Category:Anxiety disorders]] [[Category:Attachment theory]] [[fr:Anxiété de séparation]] [[nl:Separatieangst]] [[sr:Анксиозност одвајања]]