A review of the literature regarding school refusal was conducted. It was found that the term School Refusal Behavior has gone through many changes. These changes encompass nomenclature, etiology, and treatment. The names used to describe the behavior of school refusal have ranged from truancy in the 1930s to School Refusal Behavior in the 1990s.…

Looks at the effects of fear in the classroom and offers suggestions for teachers in dealing with the issue: self-acceptance, other-orientation, trust, patience, self-awareness, and journal writing. (JOW)

Presents a critical review of the studies that have applied behavioral techniques in the treatment of school phobia. Notes the conspicuous absences of any studies designed to assess either the relative efficacy of behavior therapy in comparison to other types of therapy or the different effects of various behavioral treatments. (JAC)

Characteristic behaviors and personality features of school phobia (anxiety, willfulness, dependency, depression, and unrealistic self image) are described, and 10 steps in a school-based intervention approach are listed (including assessing the family constellation, preparing teachers for the student's return to school, and encouraging therapy…

Suggests to teachers some techniques for identifying and helping the school-phobic child. (SJL)

Ideas are presented for parents in reducing their child's anxiety about school, including (1) talk with the child; (2) discuss how to relate to teachers; (3) suggest ways of making friends; (4) help children become organized; and (5) accept the child. (CB)

Reviews studies that have examined comorbid syndromal and symptomatic depression and school refusal behavior. Discusses implications for classification systems, including need for flexible taxonomic strategies that include persons with severe collective, and less severe individual, symptoms of negative affectivity. Discusses recommendations for…

School phobia is an irrational fear or anxiety about attending school. Definite distinctions can be made between the school phobic and the truant, both of whom miss school on a regular basis. It appears that the incidence of school phobia is evenly distributed between the sexes and among age levels from 5 through 15 years, and is not significantly…

An explanation is offered of how avoiding mathematics in school may be causing many women to lose important educational and career opportunities. Ways in which educators can help are suggested. (Author/LBH)

The importance of prompt treatment of the school phobic child, and the need for good communication among those concerned, are addressed in this article. The manifestation of school phobia is described and intervention methods are reviewed. (Author/MT)

Discusses diagnostic and functional classification, assessment, and treatment approaches for school refusal behavior. Diagnostic classification focuses on separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, depression, and truancy. Functional classification focuses on the maintaining consequences of the behavior, such as avoidance of…

Investigated whether or not quantification of hierarchy stimuli in the systematic desensitization by skin conductance and peripheral pulse volume measures yielded improved results with respect to treatment length. (SB)

Describes the characteristics, epidemiology, treatment, and implications of school phobia. Treatment methods focus on psychodynamic, cognitive and behavioral approaches. (BL)

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)

This document begins by providing a brief historical overview of past attempts at classification, assessment, and treatment of students with school refusal behaviors. Limitations of traditional classification strategies are explored. Recent accomplishments with this population are then discussed, including the development of the School Refusal…