Notes that substantial confusion exists regarding comparative diagnostic criteria and treatment implications for school phobia and separation anxiety. Literature survey demonstrates tendency of school personnel to put all students exhibiting these disorders into group of "school refusers." Sees treatment issues handled similarly despite evidence…

Reviews literature on school phobia which reveals predominant view concerning its etiology is separation anxiety theory. Critically analyzes theory on three grounds: methodological problems, lack of generalizability concerning pathological mother-child relationships, and lack of emphasis on external etiological variables. Recommends reexamining…

Describes school phobia and school refusal as two ends of a continuum from involuntary symptoms to willful refusal. A treatment case is reported to demonstrate the strategies of reestablishing the proper parent-child hierarchy, as well as the principles of effective case management. (JAC)

Cognitive behavioral psychology is a new theoretical orientation and when applied in treatment it is known as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Theoretically CBT seeks primarily to change cognitions to alter behaviors and to modify cognitions to affect emotions. In general CBT is considered to be an information processing psychology because it…