Separation Anxiety and Panic Disorders in Children

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are some of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric concerns in children and adolescents. At the same time, clinicians working with youth must distinguish clinical concerns from developmentally normative, time-limited anxieties. Beesdo and colleagues defined anxiety as pathological 'when it interferes with functioning' and becomes 'frequent, severe, and persistent'. Anxiety disorders in youth are associated with additional comorbid conditions in adulthood, and consequently the early identification and treatment of these disorders are crucial. This chapter provides an overview of two common anxiety diagnoses: separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder (PD). SAD represents one of the earliest diagnosed psychiatric conditions in childhood. Adolescents, by contrast, are at greatest risk for the development of PD. The chapter provides an overview of the symptomology, associated impairments, developmental course, prognosis, and treatments associated with these disorder. The literature regarding a link between SAD and PD is also synthesized. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)