Question

Is separation anxiety disorder classified under neurodevelopmental disorders? Give reasons for your answer by enumerating the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder.

Hint:

Learn to differentiate between different types of psychological disorders, and know which broader category they fall into, such as anxiety, mood, or neurodevelopmental disorders.

Answer 1

Separation Anxiety Disorder is not a neurodevelopmental disorder: No, separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is not classified under neurodevelopmental disorders. It is a type of anxiety disorder with a specific pattern of symptoms that differentiates it from neurodevelopmental conditions.
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Fear and Anxiety: The primary symptoms of SAD include excessive fear and anxiety about separation from attachment figures, such as parents, siblings or other family members. The intensity of the fear is extreme in most cases.
Inappropriate Distress: The fear and anxiety are developmentally inappropriate, often causing more worry than what is expected for a person of that age and developmental level.
Difficulty in Being Alone: Individuals with SAD struggle to be alone in a room or to go to school by themselves. They may be extremely worried about entering new institutions and cling to or shadow their parents.
Avoidance Behaviours: To avoid separation, they may exhibit extreme behaviors like fussing, screaming, having severe tantrums or making suicidal gestures.