International Islamic University MalaysiaSchool Refusal
School Refusal
Definition:
Persistent reluctant/refusal to go to school in order to stay with major attachment figure.
Refer to child’s irrational fear of school attendance
= school phobia
= “masquerade syndrome”
CF abdominal pain, headache, fever
Occurs most commonly beginning or changing school
Epi; prevalence 1-2% of school population (weiner)
Male=female
Age – 6-7 years old
12 and early terms
More secondary than primary
Good academic achievers
Mother overprotective, father passive
Conformist at school but opposional or demending at home
20% of mothers have anxiety disorders
Etiologies
1. Separation anxiety (87%)
2. Depression
3. School phobia
4. Anxiety disorders
Treatment
Supportive
Desensitization
Operant learning
Graded Exposure
Treat anxiety/antidepressant
Outcome = 2/3 return to school
Good prognosis= young age
Stability at home
KCDIs: