Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

This code identifies a mental health condition in children characterized by excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from individuals to whom the child has a strong emotional attachment. The anxiety is beyond what is expected for the child's developmental level and causes significant distress or impairment in social, academic, or other important areas of functioning.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a child's persistent and developmentally inappropriate fear or anxiety about separation from primary attachment figures or home. This diagnosis is typically made when symptoms have been present for at least four weeks and cause clinically significant distress or impairment.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "of childhood" to differentiate from adult separation anxiety, which is coded differently.
• Carefully review documentation to rule out other anxiety disorders or mood disorders, as indicated by the Excludes2 notes.
• Confirm that the anxiety is specifically related to separation and not a broader phobia or social anxiety.