What does SAD stand for?

Barbara said Robert's six-year-old son Liam suffers from separation anxiety disorder as a result of his father's tragic death.

What was striking in the study were the prevalence rates for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and separation anxiety disorder (SAD)--both of which were higher than that found in previously published community samples.

Up to 20% of children and adolescents are affected by persistent and excessive worry that can manifest as generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social phobia.

Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders--such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias--are among the most prevalent disorders for children, with a combined prevalence rate ranging from 1125% (Greco, Blackledge, Coyne & Ehrenreich, 2005; Kronenberger & Meyer, 2001).

Children with separation anxiety disorder demonstrate excessive levels of anxiety when separated or threatened with separation from a major attachment figure, most commonly the child's parents.

There are several distinct anxiety diagnoses, such as generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.

The median delay in seeking treatment across all mental disorders is nearly a decade; the longest delays, for social phobia and separation anxiety disorder, last 20-23 years.

The researchers found a 250 per cent rise in mental illness, and that 26 per cent of children met formal diagnostic requirements for at least one of eight mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress, agoraphobia, depression, conduct disorder, separation anxiety disorder and substance abuse.