OBJECTIVE: To assess the course and short-term outcomes associated with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in a community setting. METHOD: The subjects were 161 of 2,061 8- to 17-year-old twins with SAD from a community-based twin study. Subjects were born between 1974 and 1983. Subjects and parents were personally interviewed about the subject's current psychiatric history between 1990 and 1993. A follow-up interview was conducted, on average, 18 months later. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors and outcomes of persistent SAD. RESULTS: Of the 161 subjects with SAD at time 1, 80% had remitted and 59% were free of any disorder at follow-up. Children with persistent SAD had a significantly higher prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder, significantly more impairment associated with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and mothers who were less satisfied with their marriage at time 1 than children with transient episodes. Children with persistent SAD had a significantly higher prevalence of overanxious disorder or a new minor or major depressive disorder at time 2 than children with transient SAD. After controlling for comorbidity, only an elevated risk of new depressive disorders at time 2 distinguished children with persistent SAD. CONCLUSIONS: Many children with SAD in a community setting are well at follow-up, on average, 18 months later. A minority of children with persistent SAD are at significantly increased risk of a new depressive disorder, especially those with a history of oppositional defiant disorder, impairment associated with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or parental marital difficulties. Copyright 2004 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
OBJECTIVE: To assess the course and short-term outcomes associated with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in a community setting. METHOD: The subjects were 161 of 2,061 8- to 17-year-old twins with SAD from a community-based twin study. Subjects were born between 1974 and 1983. Subjects and parents were personally interviewed about the subject's current psychiatric history between 1990 and 1993. A follow-up interview was conducted, on average, 18 months later. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors and outcomes of persistent SAD. RESULTS: Of the 161 subjects with SAD at time 1, 80% had remitted and 59% were free of any disorder at follow-up. Children with persistent SAD had a significantly higher prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder, significantly more impairment associated with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and mothers who were less satisfied with their marriage at time 1 than children with transient episodes. Children with persistent SAD had a significantly higher prevalence of overanxious disorder or a new minor or major depressive disorder at time 2 than children with transient SAD. After controlling for comorbidity, only an elevated risk of new depressive disorders at time 2 distinguished children with persistent SAD. CONCLUSIONS: Many children with SAD in a community setting are well at follow-up, on average, 18 months later. A minority of children with persistent SAD are at significantly increased risk of a new depressive disorder, especially those with a history of oppositional defiant disorder, impairment associated with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or parental marital difficulties. Copyright 2004 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors: Peter M Lewinsohn; Jill M Holm-Denoma; Jason W Small; John R Seeley; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 8.829