pediatrics
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Key Points
Separation anxiety is a normal emotion in children between about age 8 months and 24 months; if it persists beyond this time or returns later, it may be severe enough to be considered a disorder. Dramatic, painful scenes, with desperate wailing and pleading, typically occur at the time of separation. A normal demeanor when the attachment figure is present does not mean that the problem is minor. Treatment involves planning regular separations (including during holidays) and coaching the attachment figure to react to the child's protestations matter-of-factly. 