Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of attachment based therapy on the reduction of separation anxiety disorder symptoms without a direct intervention in the child’s anxiety management. Method: This study was carried out based on a multiple baseline approach with a step-wise initiation of treatment, along with the evaluation of the severity of children’s anxiety symptoms using a questionnaire. The subjects comprised six couples of mothers and children with separation anxiety, who were randomly selected from among mothers and children presented to kindergartens in area 8 in the city of Tehran, using clinical interview and screening tools for emotional problems of children. Intervention sessions based on attachment based therapy as well as parental management training were carried out. Results: Results of variance analysis showed that separation anxiety disorder symptoms underwent significant reduction in both attachment based therapy and parental management training (P<0.01). Conclusion: Attachment based therapy without direct intervention in the management of child anxiety or the instruction of child anxiety management to parents, can reduce the symptoms of separation anxiety in children.