[How do children with separation anxiety disorder develop after inpatient treatment?].

Separation anxiety in children with severe school refusal evokes often worry about the future with regard to professional career and social integration. This study highlights the native outcome of inpatient children with separation anxiety disorder. 18 of 24 children, who required at the age of 6-13 years between 1996-2002 inpatient treatment because of separation anxiety disorder were assessed at follow up. Diagnostic Interview for Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents (Unnewehr et al. 2005) was used and academic and social outcome was explored. The follow-up time ranged from 4.3 to 11.1 years (average 7.1 years). Mean age was 18.4 years at time of follow-up. We found at least one clinical psychiatric diagnosis in one third of all patients at follow-up. Even more of the formerly inpatients reported subthreshold psychic symptoms (55%). The mental outcome was strongly related to comorbid diagnosis at time of inpatient care. Estimated remission rate for separation anxiety disorder was high (89%). The results revealed an important shift of diagnosis to social phobia in one third of cases. There was no incidence of agoraphobic or panic disorders. The majority of young people considered academic outcome satisfactory but reported pronounced problems in social integration. The mental stress of young people with a former severe separation anxiety after an average time of seven years was high, especially for social phobic symptoms. The results are discussed in view of further therapeutic implications.