For Separation Anxiety Disorder, what is the minimum duration for children?

• A. 6 months
• B. 4 weeks
• C. 1 year
• D. 2 weeks

Answer: (B)

The duration threshold for Separation Anxiety Disorder in children is four weeks. In kids, the distress or worry about being away from attachment figures must persist for at least a month to meet criteria, distinguishing a clinical issue from normal, developmental fears that are typically shorter. The experience must also cause significant distress or impairment and not be better explained by another condition. For adults, the duration criterion changes to six months, which is why the other timeframes (two weeks, six months, one year) don’t fit the pediatric rule.