{"h1":"ICD-11 Classification of Separation Anxiety Disorder (6B05)","faq":[{"a":"It is 6B05 in the ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11-MMS), located within the Anxiety or fear-related disorders block under Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders.","q":"What is the ICD-11 code for Separation Anxiety Disorder?"},{"a":"ICD-10 placed it (F93.0) among disorders with onset specific to childhood. ICD-11 removed that age restriction, so 6B05 applies across the lifespan whenever separation-related fear is developmentally excessive, persistent and impairing.","q":"How does ICD-11 differ from ICD-10 for this condition?"},{"a":"Marked, recurrent fear or anxiety about separation from specific attachment figures — disproportionate to developmental level, sustained, and producing significant distress or functional impairment such as school refusal or recurrent somatic complaints.","q":"What defines Separation Anxiety Disorder clinically?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-separation-anxiety-disorder","title":"ICD-11 Classification of Separation Anxiety Disorder (6B05)","entity":{"key":"separation-anxiety","kind":"condition","name":"Separation Anxiety Disorder","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor","value":"doctor"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-separation-anxiety-disorder-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"Separation Anxiety Disorder (ICD-11 6B05): a clinician explainer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-childhood-anxiety-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Childhood Anxiety, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"which-ichi-health-interventions-apply-to-separation-anxiety-disorder-in-young-children","title":"ICHI Interventions for Separation Anxiety Disorder (6B05)"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-snomed-ct-concept-for-separation-anxiety-disorder","title":"What is the SNOMED CT concept for Separation Anxiety Disorder?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-separation-anxiety-disorder-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing factors for Separation Anxiety Disorder"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-separation-anxiety-disorder","title":"What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?"}],"summary":"In ICD-11-MMS, Separation Anxiety Disorder is coded 6B05 within the Anxiety or fear-related disorders block. ICD-11 removed the childhood-onset restriction of ICD-10, applying the diagnosis across the lifespan where excessive, persistent separation-related fear causes significant distress or impairment.","answer_md":"*When a clinician needs the precise nosological home for separation anxiety, ICD-11 gives it a clear coordinate.*\n\n## In short\nIn the ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11-MMS), **Separation Anxiety Disorder is coded 6B05**, sitting within the grouping of **Anxiety or fear-related disorders** (block 6B00–6B0Z) under Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders. It is characterised by developmentally excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from specific attachment figures. Critically, ICD-11 removed the childhood-onset restriction of ICD-10 (F93.0), so the diagnosis applies across the lifespan provided symptoms are disproportionate to developmental level, persistent, and produce significant distress or functional impairment.\n\n## The classification, precisely\n- **Code:** 6B05\n- **System:** ICD-11-MMS\n- **Parent block:** Anxiety or fear-related disorders\n- **Superordinate:** Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders\n\nThe defining feature is marked, recurrent fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures — manifesting as persistent worry about harm befalling them, reluctance to go to school or sleep alone, recurrent nightmares with separation themes, or somatic complaints on anticipated separation. Duration should be sustained (typically several weeks or more) and the response clearly exceeds what is expected for the individual's developmental stage and sociocultural context. ICD-11's lifespan framing is the key shift from ICD-10, where the condition was classified among disorders with onset specific to childhood.\n\n## When to refer\nRefer for structured assessment when separation-related fear is impairing attendance at school or daily routines, when somatic presentations recur without medical cause, or when the pattern persists despite reassurance and graded reintroduction. Distinguish from age-typical separation distress in toddlers, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, and specific phobia.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nDevelopmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from a code lookup or an online form. Coding locates the condition; clinical evaluation establishes it. Explore how we [structure developmental and emotional assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), our [behavioural and emotional therapy pathways](/behavioural-therapy), and the [wider Pinnacle approach](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics — Anxiety or fear-related disorders, entity 6B05. WHO conceptual framework on classification of mental and behavioural disorders.\n\n**Next step —** For a child whose separation anxiety is disrupting school or daily life, [arrange a clinician-led assessment at a Pinnacle centre](/behavioural-therapy).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-separation-anxiety-disorder","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-separation-anxiety-disorder","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-separation-anxiety-disorder-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Separation Anxiety Disorder: ICD-11 Code 6B05","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Distinguish age-typical toddler separation distress from a sustained, impairing pattern; brief graded separations with consistent, calm reunions support healthy adjustment.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:52:00.07543+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-separation-anxiety-disorder-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"Separation Anxiety Disorder (ICD-11 6B05): a clinician explainer","reason":"Linked from this 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