Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder: A Review

Abstract

Separation anxiety is excessive anxiety in separation from or expectation of separation from basic attachment figures. Separation anxiety disorder was considered a childhood and adolescent disorder until the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Nowadays, it is known that separation anxiety disorder may continue or begin in adulthood. Adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD) shows similar clinical manifestations than in the children population. ASAD has been associated with several comorbid mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders. ASAD can also affect the clinical symptoms and course of comorbid psychiatric disorders. There is not enough data about the treatment approaches for ASAD.

Keywords

• separation anxiety
• review
• adulthood

Yetişkin Ayrılma Anksiyetesi Bozukluğu: Bir Gözden Geçirme

Öz

Ayrılma anksiyetesi; bireyin temel bağlanma figürlerinden ayrılma ya da ayrılma beklentisi durumlarında aşırı kaygı yaşamasıdır. Ayrılma anksiyetesi bozukluğu, Ruhsal Bozuklukların Tanısal ve İstatistiksel El Kitabının beşinci (DSM-5) baskısına kadar çocukluk ve ergenlik dönemi bozukluğu olarak kabul edilmekteydi. Günümüzde ayrılma anksiyetesi bozukluğunun yetişkinlikte devam edebildiği ya da başladığı bilinmektedir. Yetişkin ayrılma anksiyete bozukluğu (YAAB) çocukluk dönemindekine benzer klinik belirtiler göstermektedir. YAAB’nin, anksiyete bozuklukları, travma sonrası stres bozukluğu, kişilik bozuklukları gibi çeşitli komorbid ruhsal hastalıklarla ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir. YAAB eşlik ettiği diğer psikiyatrik bozuklukların klinik belirtilerini ve gidişatını etkileyebilmektedir. YAAB’ye yönelik tedavi yaklaşımlarıyla ilgili yeterli veri bulunmamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• ayrılma anksiyetesi
• gözden geçirme
• yetişkinlik

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