Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children Essay

According to Perwien & Bernstein (2004), the results of the Kendall study indicated that those children who had received the CBT treatments showed a decrease in anxiety related symptoms and an increase in coping abilities. The results held strong during the three-year follow-up period as well.

Another therapeutic approach to Separation Anxiety Disorder in children is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT is a highly direct, action-oriented model for assessing problems and effecting change. REBT is an extension of the RET (Rational Emotive Therapy) model but seeks to include behavior into the equation. The inclusion of the behavioral component is a critical and essential step in helping to redirect irrational thinking to a reasonable perspective. This transition is designed not only to effect thought patterns but behaviors as well. As is stated by its originator, Albert Ellis, "unlike many counseling methods, REBT is both postmodern and active-directive" (Ellis, 2000, p. 97).

REBT is an important self-help strategy by itself or as a supplement to therapy in which the level of emotional involvement with sensitive issues may prevent the patient from solving problems without some form of constructive guidance. Overall, REBT is rooted in the notion that when clients display problems in constructing and organizing their lives, or in controlling themselves, they may be suffering from deficits in cognitive control of these functions. Many people, without the aid of therapists, have found that talking to themselves, thinking through the pros and cons of a dilemma, or setting goals for themselves are useful techniques (Ellis, 2000)

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy is fairly straightforward in terms of assessing the problem and how to effect change. The therapist deals with four key factors: activating events, beliefs about the activating events, emotional consequences and the therapist's intervention and attempt to dispel the patient's irrational fears and beliefs, and encourage him to employ specific actions to succeed at feeling happy and secure.

Medications for SAD often accompany therapeutic interventions when the progress has been slow or when the symptoms of SAD are especially severe. According to MedicineNet.com "there are no medications specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat separation anxiety disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluvoxamine (Luvox) have been found to be an effective treatment for separation anxiety disorder."

Although the specifics of each type of anti-anxiety medications vary, the general purpose is to block receptors for various neurotransmitters. Most of these medications target a single protein in the brain known as the serotonin (5-HT) transporter. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work to inhibit 5-HT reuptake, and can significantly affect the brain, and subsequently, emotions and behaviors (Puig et al., 2004). Medications should only be used as a last resort when other forms of therapy are not successful.

References

Cooper, M.G. & Lesser, J.G. (2008) Clinical social work practice, Pearson Education

Ellis, A. (2000) A continuation of the dialogue on issues in counseling in the postmodern era, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 22 (1), 97-105

First, M.B., Frances, A. & Pincus, H.A. (2004) DSM-IV-TR guidebook, American Psychiatric Publications

Perwien, A.R. & Bernstein, G.A. (2004), "Clinical manifestations of separation anxiety disorder," In Ollendick, T.H. And March J.S. Phobic and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Clinician's Guide to Effective Psychosocial and Pharmacological Interventions. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 272-305.

Puig, M., Amargos-Bosch, M., Adell,…