Psych/Mental Health Case-of-the-Month: Separation Anxiety Disorder

Jacob is an 8-year-old boy whose father has been deployed overseas with the armed forces for a one-year assignment. It has been six months since his father left, and Jacob has been experiencing increased distress, especially when separating from his mother.
Psych/Mental Health Case-of-the-Month: Separation Anxiety Disorder
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He exhibits frequent worries about his father’s safety and has developed a fear of going to school. Jacob was previously an energetic and socially active child, but his behavior has changed notably in the past few months. 

Jacob's mother reports the following behaviors:

  • Refusal to attend school, with complaints of stomachaches in the mornings.
  • Repeated worries about something bad happening to his mother or father.
  • Frequent nightmares about losing his family.
  • Persistent clinginess, especially when his mother is not immediately visible.
  • Difficulty sleeping alone, insisting that he needs his mother nearby.

Questions:

1. Which of the following symptoms best indicates Separation Anxiety Disorder in children?

A) Nightmares about school assignments

B) Worry about harm befalling an attachment figure

C) Difficulty with math homework

D) Excitement about a parent’s return

2. How long must symptoms persist for a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder in children?

A) 1 week

B) 2 Weeks

C) 4 Weeks

D) 6 Months

3. What is an effective strategy for Jacob’s mother to help reduce his separation anxiety at school?

A) Allowing Jacob to skip school until he feels comfortable

B) Gradual separation with a structured goodbye routine

C) Leaving without saying goodbye to minimize stress

D) Discussing the father's deployment in detail daily

Answers:

1) B

2) C

3) B

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