matic events such as a disasters, particularly when periods of separation from loved ones
were experienced during the traumatic event. In posttraumatic stress  disorder (PTSD), the
central symptoms concern intr usions about, and avoidance of, memories associated with
the traumatic event itself, whereas in separa tion anxiety disorder, the worries and avoid-
ance concern the well-being of attachme nt figures and separation from them.
Illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with illness anxiety disorder worry about specific
illnesses they may have, but the main concer n is about the medical diagnosis itself, not
about being separated fr om attachment figures.
Bereavement. Intense yearning or longing for th e deceased, intense sorrow and emo-
tional pain, and preoccupation with the deceased or the circumstances of the death are ex-
pected responses occurring in  bereavement, whereas fear of separation from other
attachment figures is central in  separation anxiety disorder.
Depressive and bipolar disorders. These disorders may be associated with reluctance
to leave home, but the main concern is not wo rry or fear of untoward events befalling at-
tachment figures, but rather low motivation for engaging with the outside world. How-
ever, individuals with separation anxiety disorder may become depressed while being
separated or in anticipation of separation.
Oppositional defiant disorder. Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disor-
der may be oppositional in the context of being forced to separate from attachment figures.
Oppositional defiant disorder should be considered only wh en there is persistent opposi-
tional behavior unrelated to the anticipation or occurrence of separation from attachment
figures.
Psychotic disorders. Unlike the hallucinations in psychotic disorders, the unusual per-
ceptual experiences that may occur in separati on anxiety disorder are usually based on a