Separation anxiety disorder in a 13-year–old boy managed by the Neuro Emotional Technique as a biopsychosocial intervention☆

Received 29 August 2007; received in revised form 13 April 2008; accepted 4 May 2008.

Abstract

Objective

To describe a case of an adolescent with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) presenting to a chiropractor for treatment.

Clinical features

The patient was a 13-year–old boy who had consulted with a clinical psychologist and had been diagnosed with SAD using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. The patient was unable to attend school camps or sleep at friends' homes because of anxiety.

Intervention/outcome

The patient underwent 8 sessions with a chiropractor certified in the Neuro Emotional Technique (NET). Two days after his last NET treatment, he attended his first school camp without incident. He also slept away from home at a friend's home for the first time without incident. Six months postintervention, he returned to his clinical psychologist, where she independently reevaluated him stating that he no longer met the criteria for SAD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.

Conclusion

This single case report cannot provide a causal relationship between the clinical outcome and NET without further investigations. Neuro Emotional Technique is a unique therapy that does not take the place of psychotherapy; however, it may be used as an adjunct to it. It is possible that, with valid and reliable follow-up research, the biopsychosocial principles that NET addresses may be of value to children and adolescents with SAD.

Key indexing terms: Chiropractic, Separation anxiety disorder, Cognitive behavior therapy, Emotions, Case reports

a Masters (Hons) Candidate (MQU), Department of Health and Chiropractic, Macquarie Injury Management Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

b Associate Professor, Director of Research, Department of Health and Chiropractic, Macquarie Injury Management Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

c Associate Professor, Director of Clinics, Department of Health and Chiropractic, Macquarie Injury Management Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 402 333 772; fax: +61 2 9388 2005; +61 418 444 427 (Mobile).

☆ Partial funding was received from a CTS Scholarship from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

PII: S1556-3707(08)00079-5

doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2008.05.003

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