Separation anxiety and panic disorder in clinically referred youth

J Anxiety Disord. 2008 May;22(4):602-11. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.05.009. Epub 2007 May 24.

Abstract

This study examined whether youngsters with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder (PD) had experienced more separation-related events than youngsters with SAD (without comorbid PD). We also examined whether age of onset of SAD and comorbidity with other psychological disorders was related to the occurrence of PD. We compared youngsters who were diagnosed with SAD and PD (N=31) with youngsters who were diagnosed with SAD without comorbid PD (N=63) for the number of separation-related events, severity of psychopathology, and parent and child CBCL ratings, age of onset of SAD, and the number of comorbid diagnoses. The findings indicate that youngsters with SAD and PD had a later age of onset of SAD and more extensive psychopathology and functional impairment than youngsters with SAD (without comorbid PD). Contrary to hypothesis, there were no differences between the groups in the occurrence or number of separation-related events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety, Separation / diagnosis*
  • Anxiety, Separation / psychology
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Personality Assessment