In which of the following disorders, children may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrums, or make suicidal gestures?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Separation anxiety disorder
Option (1) Obsessive compulsive and related disorder — Incorrect. People with this disorder are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or are unable to stop themselves from doing particular acts again and again, such as washing their hands. Tantrums to avoid separation are not part of it.
Option (2) Dissociative disorder — Incorrect. Dissociation is a severance of the connections between ideas and emotions, with feelings of unreality, estrangement and depersonalisation, as in dissociative amnesia or identity disorder.
Option (3) Separation anxiety disorder — Correct. Individuals with SAD are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is not developmentally appropriate. To avoid separation, children with SAD may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrums, or make suicidal gestures.
Option (4) Phobia — Incorrect. People with phobias have irrational fears related to specific objects, people, or situations, such as heights or snakes; the fear is of the object, not of being separated from a parent.
NCERT (2025-26): “…People who have phobias have irrational fears related to specific objects, people, or situations.…” “…Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is another type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally not appropriate. Children with SAD may have difficulty being in a room by themselves, going to school alone, are fearful of entering new situations, and cling to and shadow their parents’ every move. To avoid separation, children with SAD may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrums, or make suicidal gestures.” |