How long must symptoms persist for Separation Anxiety Disorder diagnosis in children?

For a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder in children, symptoms must persist for at least four weeks. This duration is critical because it helps to distinguish between a normal developmental response to separation and a disorder that requires clinical intervention. Typically, children might exhibit anxiety when separated from caregivers, especially during transitional periods such as starting school or moving to a new environment. However, for a clinical diagnosis, the symptoms need to be beyond what is developmentally expected and must cause significant distress or impairment in functioning.

The requirement of a four-week duration aligns with the diagnostic criteria set out in the DSM-5, which indicates that this time frame helps ensure that the anxiety is persistent rather than a transient reaction to a specific event. This persistent nature of symptoms is crucial for understanding the child's experience and guiding appropriate treatment interventions.