Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Separation Anxiety Disorder

  • Chapter
Handbook of Behavior Therapy in the Psychiatric Setting

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Psychiatry ((CIPS))

Abstract

This chapter highlights issues faced by mental health professionals who operate in psychiatric settings and deliver services to children exhibiting problems consistent with the diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder (SAD; American Psychiatric Association, 1980, 1987). In the first section of the chapter, diagnostic issues are briefly covered. In subsequent sections, prototypical behavioral assessment and treatment approaches are described, and the application of these practices within psychiatric settings is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Achenbach, T.M., & Edelbrock, C.S. (1983). Manual for the child behavior checklist. Available from T.M. Achenbach, University of Vermont, Burlington.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.; DSM-m). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed. rev.; DSM-III-R). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.C., Williams, S., McGee, R., & Silva, P.A. (1987) DSM-III disorders in preadolescent children. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 69–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appelbaum, P. (1989) Admitting children to psychiatric hospitals: A controversy revived. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 40, 334–335.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barack, R.S. (1986) Hospitalization of emotionally disturbed children: Who gets hospitalized and why. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 56, 317–319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D. (1988). Anxiety and its disorders. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A.T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Nezworski, T. (1990). Clinical implications of attachment. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, G.A., & Garfinkel, B.D. (1986) School phobia: The overlap of affective and anxiety disorders. Journal of the American of Child Psychiatry, 26, 527–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, G.A., Svinger, P.H., & Garfinkel, B.D. (1990) School phobia: Patterns of family functioning. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 24–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, H.R., Canino, G., Rubio-Stipec, M., Gould, M.S., Ribera, J., Sesman, M., Woodbury, M., Huertas-Goldman, S., Pagan, A., Sanchez-Lacay, A., & Moscoso, M. (1988). Estimates of the prevalence of childhood maladjustment in a community survey in Puerto Rico. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 1120–1126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blagg, N.R. (1987). School phobia and its treatment. London: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blagg, N.R., & Yule, W. (1984) The behavioral treatment of school refusal: A comparative study. Behavior Research and Therapy, 22, 119–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, P.H., & Knapp, M. (1981) Self-control desensitization with a multi-phobic boy: A multiple-baseline design. Journal of Experimental Psychiatry and Behavior Therapy, 12, 281–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, R.C., Offord, D.R., & Boyle, M.H. (1990) The prevalence of overanxious disorder and separation anxiety disorder: Results from the Ontario Child Health Study. Journal of American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 753–758.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, T., & Faitak, M.T. (1989) Ethical guidelines for the inpatient psychiatric care of children. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 20, 142–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, S.B. (1986). Developmental issues in childhood anxiety. In R. Gittelman (Ed.), Anxiety disorders of childhood (pp. 24–57). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, W.J., Puig-Antich, U., Hirsch, M., Paez, P., Ambrosini, J.J., Tabrizi, M.A., & Davies, M. (1985) The assessment of affective disorders in children and adolescents by semistructured interview. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 696–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, H.M. (1985). Essentials of child psychiatry. Melbourne: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E.J., Edelbrock, C., & Costello, A.J. (1985) Validity of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for children: A comparison between psychiatric and pediatric referrals. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 579–595.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, R., & Forman, M.A. (1987) Conflict of interest associated with the psychiatric hospitalization of children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 12–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, R., Muller, B., & Forman, M.A. (1989) The psychiatric hospitalization of children: An overview. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 19, 231–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edelbrock, C., Costello, A.J., Dulcan, M.K., Kalas, R., & Conover, N.C. (1985) Age differences in the reliability of the psychiatric interview of the child. Child Development, 56, 265–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1970). The essence of rational psychotherapy: A comprehensive approach to treatment. New York: Institute for Rational Living.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, G., Last, C.G., & Strauss, C.C. (1987) Expression of SAD: The roles of age and gender. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 18, 82–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garfield, S.L. (1984). Methodological problems in clinical diagnosis. In H.E. Adams & P.B. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology (pp. 27–46). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garvey, W., & Hegrenes, J. (1966) Desensitization techniques in the treatment of school phobia. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 36, 147–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman, R. (1986). Childhood anxiety disorders: Correlates and outcome. In R. Gittelman (Ed.). Anxiety disorders of childhood (pp. 101–125). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman-Klein, R., & Klein, D.F. (1971) Controlled imipramine treatment of school phobia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 25, 204–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman-Klein, R., & Klein, D.F. (1980). Separation anxiety in school refusal and its treatment with drugs. In L. Hersov & I. Berg(Eds.), Out of school (pp. 321–341). London: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graziano, A.M., DeGiovanni, I.S., & Garcia, K.A. (1979) Behavioral treatment of children’s fears: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 804–830.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hersen, M. (1968) A treatment of a compulsive and phobic disorder through a total behavioural therapy program: A case study. Psychotherapy, 5, 220–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hersov, L., & Bentovim, A. (1985). In-patient and day-hospital units. In M. Rutter & L. Hersov (Eds.), Child and adolescent psychiatry (pp. 766–779). London: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, R., & Rachman, S. (1974) Desynchrony in measures of fear. Behavior Research and Therapy, 12, 319–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashani, J.H,. & Orvaschel, H. (1990) A community study of anxiety in children and adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 313–318.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kashani, J.H., Vaidya, A.F., Soltys, S.M., Dandoy, A.C., Katz, L.M., & Reid, J.C. (1990) Correlates of anxiety in psychiatrically hospitalized children and their parents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 319–323.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P.C., Howard, B.L., & Epps, J. (1988) The anxious child: Cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies. Behavior Modification, 12, 281–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W.A. (1965) School phobia: Rapid treatment of 50 cases. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 70, 285–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W.A. (1983). Obsessive-compulsive and phobic reactions. In T.O. Ollendick & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of Child Psychopathology (pp. 277–291). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kielser, D. (1966) Some myths of psychotherapy research and the search for a paradigm. Psychological Bulletin, 65, 110–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, N.J., Hamilton, D.I., & Ollendick, T.H. (1988). Children’s phobias: A behavioral perspective. London: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, M.E., Thompson, R.A., Gardner, W.P., Charnov, E.L., & Estes, D. (1984) Security of infantile attachment as assessment in the “strange situation”: Its study and biological interpretation. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7, 127–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., & Strauss, C.C. (1990) School refusal in anxiety-disordered children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 31–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., Francis, G., Hersen, M., Kazdin, A.L., & Strauss, C.C. (1987a) Separation anxiety and school phobia: A comparison using DSM-III criteria. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 653–657.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., Hersen, M., Kazdin, A.L., Finkelstein, R., & Strauss, C.C. (1987b) Comparison of DSM-III separation anxiety and overanxious disorders: Demographic characteristics and patterns of comorbidity. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 26, 527–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., Hersen, M., Kazdin, A.L., Francis, G.F., & Grubb, H.J. (1987c) Psychiatric illness in the mothers of anxious children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1580–1583.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., Strauss, C.C., & Francis, G.F. (1987d) Comorbidity among childhood anxiety disorders. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175, 726–730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, A.A. (1960). The elimination of children’s phobias by deconditioning. In H.J. Eysenck (Ed.), Behavior therapy and the neuroses (pp. 114–122). New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, A.A., & Abramovitz, A. (1962) The use of emotive imagery in the treatment of children’s phobias. Journal of Mental Science, 108, 191–195.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, R., Taylor, L.J., & Crawford, L.S. (1988) Study of somatic complaints and psychiatric diagnoses in children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 185–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, I. (1969). Fears and phobias. New York: American Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C.A., & Korte, A.O. (1978) An application of social learning principles to a case of school phobia. School Social Work Journal, 2, 77–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mash, E.J., & Terdal, L.G. (Eds.). (1981). Behavioral assessment of childhood disorders. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meichenbaum, D.H. (1977). Cognitive-behavior modification. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L.C., Barrett, C.L., & Hampe, E. (1974). Phobias of childhood in a prescientificera. In A. Davids (Ed.), Child personality and psychopathology: Current topics (Vol. 1, pp. 89–134). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, P.M. (1972) The use of visual imagery and muscle relaxation in the counterconditioning of a phobic child: A case study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 154, 457–460.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montenegro, H. (1968) Severe separation anxiety in two preschool children: Successfully treated by reciprocal inhibition. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 9, 93–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, R.J., & Kratochwill, T.R. (1983). Treating children’s fears and phobias. New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neisworth, J.T., Madie, R.A., & Goeke, K.E. (1975) “Errorless” elimination of separation anxiety: A case study. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 6, 79–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H. (1983) Reliability and validity of the revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSS CR-R). Behavior Research and Therapy, 21, 685–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H., & Francis, G. (November, 1990). Behavioral assessment and treatment of childhood phobia and childhood anxiety disorders. Workshop at the 24th Annual Convention of Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H., & Hersen, M. (1984). An overview of child behavioral assessment. In T.H. Ollendick & M. Hersen (Eds.), Child behavioral assessment: Principles and procedures (pp. 3–19). New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H., & King, N.J. (1990). School phobia and separation anxiety. In H. Leitenberg (Ed.), Handbook of social anxiety (pp. 179–214). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H., & Mayer, J.A. (1984). School phobia. In S.M. Turner (Ed.), Behavioral theories and treatment of anxiety (pp. 367–412). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, R.J., & Moran, G. (1988) Attachment theory, personality development, and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology Review, 8, 611–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G.R. (1965). A learning theory approach to the treatment of school phobic child. In L.P. Ullman & L. Krasner (Eds.), Case studies in behavior modification (pp. 279–285). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D., & Wolpe, S. (1981) Multiple behavioural techniques in severe separation anxiety of a twelve-year-old. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 12, 329–332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quay, H.C., & Peterson, D.R. (1979). Manual for the Behavior Problem Checklist. Published by authors at 59 Fifth St., Highland Park, NJ 08904.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapoport, J.L., & Mikkelsen, E.J. (1978). Antidepressants. In J.S. Werry (Ed.), Psychopharmacology (pp. 208–233). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, J.C., Werry, J.S. Elkind, G.S., & Zametizin, A. (1987) Attention deficit, conduct, oppositional and anxiety disorders in children: 2. Clinical characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 26, 144–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C.R., & Richmond, B.O. (1978) What I think and feel: A revised measure of children’s manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 271–280.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simeon, J.G., & Ferguson, H.B. (1985) Recent developments in the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications. Psychiatric Clinics of North American, 8, 893–907.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, T.F., Boggs, S.R., & Osnes, P.G. (1989). Separation anxiety disorder and school phobia. In M.C. Robert & C.E. Walker (Eds.), Casebook of child and pediatric psychology (pp. 71–93). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, L. (1979). Residential treatment. In S.I. Harrison (Ed.), Basic handbook of child psychiatry (pp. 231–262). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, C.C., Last, C.G., Hersen, M., & Kazdin, A.L. (1988) Association between anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 57–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thyer, B.A., & Sowers-Hoag, K.M. (1988) Behavior therapy for separation anxiety disorder. Behavior Modification, 12, 205–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Plog, H.M. (1975) Treatment of frequency of urination by stories competing with anxiety. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 6, 165–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldron, S., Shrier, D.K., Stone, B., & Tobin, S. (1975) School phobia and other childhood neuroses: A systematic study of children and their families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 802–808.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, S.R., Stone, K., Noam, G.G., Grimes, K., & Schwab-Stone, M. (1989) Comparison of DISC with clinicians’ DSM-III diagnoses in psychiatric inpatients. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 53–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Werry, J.S., Methven, R.J., Fitzpatrick, J., & Dixon, H. (1983) The interrater reliability of DSM-III in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 341–354.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Werry, J.S., Elkind, G.S., & Reeves, J.C. (1987a) Attention deficit, conduct, oppositional, and anxiety disorders in children: 1. A review of the research on differentiating characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 26, 133–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werry, J.S., Elkind, G.S., & Reeves, J.C. (1987b) Attention deficit, conduct, oppositional, and anxiety disorders in children: 3. Laboratory differences. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 409–428.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G.T., & O’Leary, K.D. (1980). Principles of behavior therapy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204-5341, USA

    Annette M. Farris & Ernest N. Jouriles

Authors
  1. Annette M. Farris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernest N. Jouriles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College of Pennsylvania at EPPI, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alan S. Bellack Ph.D.

  2. School of Psychology, Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

    Michel Hersen Ph.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Farris, A.M., Jouriles, E.N. (1993). Separation Anxiety Disorder. In: Bellack, A.S., Hersen, M. (eds) Handbook of Behavior Therapy in the Psychiatric Setting. Critical Issues in Psychiatry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2430-8_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2430-8_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2432-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2430-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation