What is the typical age group for onset of Separation Anxiety Disorder?

• A. In late adulthood.
• B. Typically in childhood, often before age 18.
• C. Only in adolescence.
• D. During infancy.

Answer: (B)

Separation Anxiety Disorder most often begins in childhood, typically before the age of 18. The condition involves excessive, persistent fear or anxiety about being apart from attachment figures, which usually becomes evident during the early school years (often around ages 7 to 9) and leads to distress or impairment. This developmental pattern explains why childhood onset is the best answer. Infancy features normal separation anxiety, but a disorder is diagnosed only when the distress is excessive and developmentally inappropriate. Onset in late adulthood is not typical, and while adolescence can show symptoms, the hallmark teaching is that the onset is in childhood.