Diagnostic Features
The essential feature of separation anxiety disorder is excessive fear or anxiety concerning
separation from home or attachment figures. The anxiety exceeds what may be expected
given the person’s developmental level (Criteri on A). Individuals with separation anxiety
disorder have symptoms that meet at least th ree of the following criteria: They experience
recurrent excessive distress when separation fr om home or major atta chment figures is an-
ticipated or occurs (Criterion A1). They wo rry about the well-being or death of attachment
figures, particularly when separated from them, and they need to know the whereabouts
of their attachment figures and want to stay in touch with them (Criterion A2). They also
worry about untoward events to themselves, such as getting los t, being kidnapped, or
having an accident, that would keep them fr om ever being reunited with their major at-
tachment figure (Criterion A3). Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are reluctant
or refuse to go out by themselves because of  separation fears (Criterion A4). They have
persistent and excessive fear or reluctance about being alone or without major attachment
figures at home or in other settings. Children with separa tion anxiety disorder may be un-
able to stay or go in a room by themselv es and may display “clinging” behavior, staying
close to or “shadowing” the parent around the house, or requiring someone to be with
them when going to another room in the house (Criterion A5). They have persistent reluc-
tance or refusal to go to sleep without bein g near a major attachme nt figure or to sleep
away from home (Criterion A6). Children with  this disorder often have difficulty at bed-
time and may insist that someone stay with them until they fall asleep. During the night,