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There are no actual medical tests to diagnose separation anxiety, as it is considered a normal stage of child development rather than a mental disorder. In most cases, treatment for separation anxiety will not be necessary, as the condition will likely pass on its own over time. Children diagnosed with separation anxiety may be given a mild sedative in some stressful circumstances, such as before a medical procedure.

Severe cases of separation anxiety that last beyond the age of 2 may indicate separation anxiety disorder and require a mental health evaluation. As part of this analysis, a child may be asked to speak with a mental health professional and the parents or primary caregivers may provide a list of the child’s symptoms and a description of any family history of mental illness.

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when a child has separation anxiety that begins before 18 years of age, lasts for at least four weeks and causes significant distress or impairment of social, academic or other important areas of functioning.  When separation anxiety develops suddenly in an older child, it may be representative of a different problem such as being abused or bullied. In addition, separation anxiety disorder is not diagnosed if symptoms are primarily the result of other mental disorders such as panic disorder or schizophrenia.

Psychotherapy is the main treatment for separation anxiety disorder. It focuses on helping the child tolerate separations from the parent or caregiver.