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[Father-child hospitalization in the separation anxiety]
H Chabrol1, R Fouraste, P Morón
1Clinique à la Faculté, Attaché des Hôpital La Grave, Université de Toulouse II.
Actas Luso-Espanolas De Neurologia, Psiquiatria Y Ciencias Afines
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Severe separation anxiety disorder in children, often leading to school refusal, can be treated by hospitalizing the child with their father. This approach helps manage separation fears and restore autonomy.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Therapy
Background:
- Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) with school refusal presents significant treatment challenges, often showing resistance to outpatient care.
- The overwhelming fear of separation can make traditional hospitalization seem overly dramatic for affected children.
Observation:
- A case study involved a 13-year-old child experiencing severe SAD, manifesting as school refusal and inability to separate from the mother.
- The primary issue identified was the child's intense fear of separating from the mother.
Findings:
- The treatment involved hospitalizing the child with the father, positioning him as a co-therapist.
- Therapeutic decisions regarding graduated exposure to separation were made collaboratively with the father, who then communicated them to the child.
- This structured approach re-established paternal control, effectively reducing the child's anxiety.
Implications:
- Hospitalizing children with their fathers offers a viable therapeutic strategy for severe SAD and school refusal.
- Involving the father as a co-therapist can facilitate the gradual restoration of a child's autonomy and reduce separation anxiety.
- This case highlights the potential of family-centered, structured interventions in managing complex pediatric anxiety disorders.