Attachment disorder

Attachment disorder
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Difficulty forming emotional attachments, social withdrawal, emotional detachment
Complications	Anxiety disorders, depression, behavioral problems
Onset	Early childhood
Duration	Long-term
Types	Reactive attachment disorder, Disinhibited social engagement disorder
Causes	Neglect, abuse, trauma
Risks	Institutionalization, foster care, adoption
Diagnosis	Clinical assessment, DSM-5 criteria
Differential diagnosis	Autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, conduct disorder
Prevention	Early intervention, stable caregiving environment
Treatment	Therapy, parental training, medication
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Varies, can improve with treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Attachment disorder is a broad term intended to describe disorders of mood, behavior, and social relationships arising from a failure to form normal attachments to primary care giving figures in early childhood. Such a failure would result from unusual early experiences of neglect, abuse, abrupt separation from caregivers between 6 months and three years of age, frequent change or excessive numbers of caregivers, or lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts. Not all children who have these experiences have an attachment disorder.

Causes

The causes of attachment disorders are still not fully understood. However, it is generally agreed that attachment disorders develop as a result of a combination of genetic, social, and environmental factors. Some of the factors that may contribute to the development of attachment disorders include:

• Neglect or abuse in early childhood
• Frequent changes in caregivers
• Lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts
• Abrupt separation from caregivers between 6 months and three years of age

Symptoms

The symptoms of attachment disorders can vary widely, but may include:

• Difficulty forming emotional attachments to others
• Resistance to comforting
• Extreme need for control
• Anger problems
• Difficulty showing genuine care and affection
• An underdeveloped conscience

Treatment

Treatment for attachment disorders typically involves a combination of therapy, counseling, and education. This may include:

• Psychotherapy for the child and family
• Social skills training
• Parenting classes
• School-based interventions

See also

• Attachment theory
• Child development
• Child psychology
• Developmental psychology

References

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