How is school refusal diagnosed?

A collaborative approach is required for the assessment and management of school refusal which includes the provider, parents, school staffs and other mental health professional. Many children often present with physical symptoms, evaluation by a physician is important to rule out any underlying medical problems.

Is school refusal a disorder?

Although SR is not a diagnostic term, many SR youths are likely to meet diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia, generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, or separation anxiety disorder; moreover, some display symptoms of depression and might even meet the criteria for a diagnosis (e.g., Bernstein, 1991; Hella ...

What are the criteria for school avoidance?

The operational criteria present in Berg's [2] definition are: (1) school attendance is less than 80% in the classroom during the 2 weeks prior; (2) the presence of an anxiety disorder; (3) parents are aware of their child's whereabouts during absences; (4) the absence of conduct disorder problems; and (5) parental ...

What happens when a child refuses to go to school?

School refusal usually goes along with disorders like separation anxiety, depression or panic disorder. An evaluation from a professional can tell you if your child needs treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are used to treat school refusal.

How do you treat refusal behavior in school?

Cognitive behavioral treatment is the most effective approach. This involves teaching a child and parent specific skills that can help the child learn to cope with the thoughts, emotions and behaviors associated with their school refusal.

How Can Therapists Help Children with School Refusal? Mona Delahooke, PhD

What mental illness is school refusal?

School refusal is considered a symptom and may be associated with diagnoses such as social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, major depression, oppositional defiant disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder, among others.

What medication is used for school avoidance?

Medication: Particularly if a child has another mental health condition, medication may be helpful. For example, children may take antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft®) or fluoxetine (Prozac®) may treat an underlying anxiety disorder.

Should I force my anxious child to attend school?

Avoid forcing your child to go to school.

Try not to shout, tell them off or force them into school. Making them go in without changing anything is likely to make their anxiety worse in the long-term. Even though they might physically get to school, they probably won't be in a position to learn either.

What if my child won t go to school because of anxiety UK?

Speak to your school and ask them to assess your child if you think there may be an unidentified SEND need causing the anxiety. You'll need to work with the school to help your child - particularly with any support plans they put in place.

What happens if my 15 year old refuses to go to school UK?

You'll get a School Attendance Order if the local council thinks your child is not getting an education. You have 15 days to provide evidence that you've registered your child with the school listed in the order or that you're giving them home education. If you do not, you could be prosecuted or given a fine.

Is school avoidance a diagnosis?

School Avoidance is Not a Diagnosis

Therefore, there is no diagnostic code for school avoidance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5, which is the definitive authority that defines and classifies mental health disorders.

What are the three types of school refusal?

The terms fear‐based school phobia, anxiety‐based school refusal, and delinquent‐based truancy were commonly described as school refusal behavior.

What is the assessment tool for school refusal?

The School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R), developed by Christopher Kearney and Wendy Silverman, is a psychological assessment tool designed to evaluate school refusal disorder symptoms in children and identify their reasons for avoiding school.

What medication is used for school refusal anxiety?

Separation Anxiety and School Refusal Medication: Tricyclic Antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Anxiolytic Agents, Antihistamines, Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents, Anticonvulsants, Alpha-Adrenergic Agents.

Does ADHD cause school avoidance?

Confirming the Validity of the School-Refusal Assessment Scale—Revised in a Sample of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Children with developmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are at high risk of school-refusal behavior (SRB) compared with their peers.

Can ADHD cause school refusal?

Their study showed that children with ADHD, who also had anxiety, depression, or phobias, were more prone to skip school for over 14 days compared to the children with ADHD only (Classi et al., 2012). This means that having ADHD and internalized problems can increase the risk of being absent from school.

Does anxiety count as sen?

Anxiety can be a Special Educational Needs and/or Disability issue (SEND), as clearly defined in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, since it is likely to impact on your child's ability to learn if left untreated.

Do kids grow out of school anxiety?

Some anxious children will grow out of their fears, but others will keep having trouble with anxiety unless they get professional help.

How can I help my child with school refusal?

Safe to feel: Talk to your child, validate their concerns, avoid lecturing. ​Talk about what's bothering them, while at the same time making it clear that a plan will be made to return to school. Keep in mind, though, that some children can't describe what is bothering them.

Should I punish my child for school refusal?

This phenomenon, known as school refusal, isn't a behavior problem. You can't punish your child out of school refusal. Instead, it's a form of anxiety that demands treatment.

How do you deal with school refusal due to anxiety?

The best way to get children back to school is by working as a team with the school. If school refusal is related to anxiety or depression, children might need mental health support. It's good to acknowledge children's feelings about school, but let them know that you expect them to go back to school.

Can I call the police if my child refuses to go to school UK?

You should speak to the school who will be able to offer support and assistance. The police do have powers to remove a child of compulsory school age from a public place and take them back to a school or to another place designated by the local authority (unless that child is home educated).

Can a school tell you that your child needs medication?

There's nothing in the law that prohibits teachers from suggesting medication, either. But it's very bad practice, and they should avoid doing it. If your child's teacher or an IEP team member pressures you or says medication is required, there are steps you can take.

What is emotionally based school avoidance?

Welcome to Somerset's EBSA website. Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is a term used to describe children and young people (CYP) who experience challenges in attending school due to negative feelings (such as anxiety).

How to do exposure therapy with kids?

Exposure therapists work collaboratively with the child and family to identify exposure tasks that offer the ideal level of challenge, and as that task gets easier with practice, they gradually move up to next ideal task. The provider also assesses the scope of concern related to the avoidance behaviors.