Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Consulting

• Children at Risk
• Diagnosis
• Interventions for Home and School
• Treatment

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by an extreme fear and significant distress about being away from home or caregivers.

• These children have a great need to stay home or be close to their parents and may worry excessively when they are apart.
• All children may experience some mild worries cat times of separation, but separation anxiety disorder affects the child’s ability to engage in ordinary activities, such as school and social activities.
• Children with the disorder become extremely upset whenever they separate from their primary caregiver, whether that person is a parent, relative, nanny, or other caregiver.
• Unlike children who are simply shy, children with separation anxiety disorder may become severely anxious and agitated even when just anticipating being away from their home or primary caregiver.