ABSTRACT
Treatment is quite complicated and often involves coordination between the general practitioner or pediatrician, school personnel, and family members. The psychiatrist or mental health professional must be willing to spend time coordinating a behavioral desensitization program for return to school if that is a problem. The therapy then takes on a more psychodynamic approach in helping the mother with her depression and preparing the family system for the return of the child. Psychopharmacologic treatment generally revolves around the use of antidepressants. A number of these children have a good response to imipramine if they fall into the depressive or panic disorder subset of Separation Anxiety Disorder. Therapeutic intervention should begin with a careful study of the case history to delineate any precipitating factors that may have led to a worsening of the disorder. Family psychotherapy should involve evaluation for increased anxiety in the entire family and also for treatment needs in the parents.
