School phobia: causes and treatments

Abstract

This study examined the causes and treatments of school phobia from the behavioral, the psychodynamic, and the psychopharmacological perspectives. School phobia is the most commonly seen phobia in school age children. Children who experience school phobia exhibit an extreme aversion to school or to some aspect of the school situation. The child displays ?symptoms of crying, whining, and tantrums while in the classroom or while preparing to go to school. The child?s somatic symptoms may hinder his ability to enjoy or learn from the school setting. Results of the literature indicated that the school phobic child can be treated with behavioral methods, using either a respondent model, or the operant model of conditioning. In contrast, psychotherapy can be used to treat a school phobic child, alone or in conjunction with drug (imipramine) therapy. Research studies reviewed indicated that the behavioral and psychodynamic treatments were 100% effective, while imipramine treatment achieved 81% success. Educators and parents alerted to the earliest symptoms of a school phobic child can prevent a lengthy treatment. This study presents a parent questionnaire and a self-rating scale designed by this author. Use of these two devices may alert parents and educators to a child's anxiety surrounding the school situation.