Separation anxiety disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from a home or attachment figure(s). The anxiety exceeds what is expected at the individual's developmental level.
Developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached, as evidenced by at least 3
of the following:
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, lasting at least 4
weeks in children and adolescents and typically 6
months or more in adults.
The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, academic, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as:
Specify if:
4
of the following symptoms occur (Note: The abrupt surge can occur from a calm state or an anxious state):1
year of age, when infants develop stranger anxiety).[10]