5 - Paeds - Safeguarding - CAMHS - School refusal

Question 1

school refusal - what is it? what might child complain of?

Answer 1

refusing to go school due to overwhelming anxiety disproportionate to stress at school

nausea, headache, unwell confined to weekday term time mornings that clear by midday normally

Question 2

school refusal may be rational - why?

Answer 2

bullying/educational underachievement

Question 3

School refusal causes? what about in adolescents especially?

Answer 3

separation anxiety with parents - typically <11y - may be provoked by adverse life events eg family death
anxiety provoked by some aspect of school

adolescents -> depressive or anxiety disorder / intolerance of uncertainty

Question 4

how to trt separation anxiety

Answer 4

promote separation from parents eg sleepover while arranging early return to school

Question 5

MGMT of school refusal - initial things?

Answer 5

advise/support parents and school
trt emotional disorder
address bullying/educational difficulties

Question 6

MGMT - key professionals in mgmt?

Answer 6

teachers, educational psychologist, welfare officers