The Childhood Separation Anxiety Treatment Program
Project Description
The Childhood Separation Anxiety Treatment Program is offering free treatment for children 4-8 years of age with a primary diagnosis of separation anxiety. Eligible children and their parents will participate in a 9-week treatment course and meet once weekly with their therapist. Parents are taught specific skills to improve interactions with their child and help their child separate more easily during everyday activities. The Childhood Separation Anxiety Treatment Program is housed within the Child and Adolescent Fear and Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University.
Eligibility for participation
Children ages 4-8 who meet DSM-IV-C/P criteria for separation anxiety disorder may be eligible for this treatment study. Children must have at least one parent or caregiver available to accompany them to treatment.
Screening Procedures & Cost
If you are interested in learning more about this project and whether it may be an appropriate option for your child, please contact us at (617) 353-9610. Study staff will first conduct an initial phone screen. A diagnostic assessment may be scheduled to further determine eligibility of interested families. The fee for this diagnostic assessment is based on a sliding scale. Participation in the Childhood Separation Anxiety Treatment Program is free of charge for all eligible participants.
Follow-up Contacts and Assessments
Following treatment, families are asked to participate in a post-treatment assessment, 3-month assessment, 6-month assessment, and 12-month assessment at the Center. Families completing the follow-up assessments will be compensated for their time ($50 per assessment completed).
Other Treatment Options at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
If your teen is not eligible for the treatment study, but the Center for Anxiety staff believe that treatment for anxiety would be valuable for him/her, treatment may be available with a clinician at the Center for Anxiety. Such treatment options may also be an option for those families who would prefer not to be a part of this research project.
Interested in the Childhood Separation Anxiety Treatment Program?
If you are interested in having your child screened for this study, or would like more information, feel free to call us at (617) 353-9610, or email Bonnie Brown, our nurse administrator, at bonnieb@bu.edu.
