Reactive Attachment Disorder Case Study

One thing is for sure: No recipe for parenting will guarantee a good night's sleep every night or perfect children (Hotelling, 2004). As stated in the article Bowlby (1982) defined attachment as a child being “strongly disposed to seek proximity to and contact with a specific figure and to do so in certain situation, notably when he is frightened, tired or ill”. Typically, preferred attachment emerges clearly in the latter part of the 1st year of life, as evidenced by the appearance of separation protest and stranger wariness. Under usual conditions, preferred attachment unfolds gradually over the 1st year of life (Zeanah and Fox, 2004). Preferred attachments to caregivers may develop at any time after infants reach a cognitive age of 7 to 9 months, provided that the new caregivers have sufficient involvement with the child. Thus, young children adopted out of foster care or institutions readily form attachments to their new caregivers (Zeanah and Fox, 2004). Zeanah and Fox (2004) states there are four patterns of attachment, secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized have described individual differences in the organization of an infant’s attachment behaviors with respect to an attachment figure in this procedure. RAD was first introduced into the diagnostic nosologies just over 20 years ago, with the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed. [DSM-III], American Psychiatric

Reactive Attachment Disorder is a common infancy/early childhood disorder. Reactive attachment disorder is located under the trauma- and stressors-related disorder section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth Edition. It is normally diagnosed when an infant or child experience expresses a minimal attachment to a figure for nurturance, comfort, support, and protection. Although children diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder have the ability to select their attachment figure, they fail to show behavioral manifestation because they had limited access during the early developmental stage. Some disturbed behaviors include diminished or absence of positive emotions toward caregiver. In addition,

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) was first introduced just over 20 years ago, with the publication of DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). In the DSM-IV. The disorder is defined by aberrant social behavior that appears in early childhood and is evident cross contextually(1994). The disorder describes aberrant social behaviors in young children that are believed to derive from being reared in caregiving environments lacking species-typical nurturance and stimulation, such as in instances such as maltreatment or institutional rearing. (First, M., & Tasman, A. 2010) . In cases of RAD two major types of abnormalities have been cited; these include an emotionally withdrawn/inhibited type and an indiscriminately social/disinhibited pattern (First, M., & Tasman, A. 2010).Conditions in in foreign orphanages and institutions such as, multiple caregivers, maltreatment, abuse, neglect, and others contribute to the inability for internationally adopted children to form secure attachments. All of these factors contribute to internationally adopted children being at a higher risk to develop attachment disorders such as RAD and other behavioral problems.

The flowing case study of a female, Mallory, suffering from transference, reactive attachment disorder, and depressive disorder due to reactive attachment disorder believed to be caused by incidents that occurred between her and an important individual in her life. Mallory initially comes to see Dr. Santos for what she descried as mild depressive symptoms.

r care can prevent kids from forming healthy relationships and bonds with peers and adults if they constantly change foster homes. Multiple caregivers, abuse, neglect and abandonment can result in reactive attachment disorder, signified by strained relationships and a general lack of interested in socialization with others. The mental effects include distrust, and uncertainty in others, heightened by anxiety, fear and depression. Behavioral symptoms include avoidance of physical contact, straying from social interaction, remaining withdrawn, acting preoccupied or detached from people or activities, devoid of outward emotion and wanting to remain alone.

Throughout the duration of this course, we can establish that neglect is a form of child maltreatment. By definition, child neglect occurs when the child’s parent or caretaker fails to provide basic, fundamental needs to the child (e.g., physical, emotional, medical, or educational) (Miller-Perrin & Perrin, 2013). It is a maltreatment that commonly begins at an early age and can be built to something more chronic in his/her life (Hildyard, 2002). Initial neglect can result in short-term consequences such as anxious or disorganized style of attachment; recognizing and distinguishing emotion in others; and intelligence and problem-solving skills (Rhoades, 2017). However, the consequences can persist and develop long-term. This paper will investigate

Reactive Attachment Disorder is a psychological disorder which effects children and adults in the United States. Reactive Attachment Disorder or “RAD”, “is a rare but serious condition in which an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments with parents or caregivers” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Adolescents suffer from reactive attachment disorder in the United States due to a lack of appropriate parent care which can be cured through seeking the assistance of professionals.

This literature review focuses on a general understanding of the history of attachment, as well as the basis of what attachment means in early childhood development. It will also review how the diagnosis of RAD has evolved over the years since it was first introduced as a condition in 1980. This paper will reveal what scientists suggest happens when a child’s attachment to his/her primary caregiver is

What are the consequences when children are not given the love, a sense of safety, and care they need? While some of the behaviors of Reactive Attachment Disorder has been noted as far back as the mid-20th century (Fox and Zeanah 32), and was not even introduced as a disorder until 1980 in the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Gleason and Zeanah 207). Children have been exhibiting the symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder long before scientist started documenting it. During the early years, not much was known about Reactive Attachment Disorder, although scientist have learned much about this disorder since. Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that only adopted children have this disorder. The thought is that children taken from their parental units by state officials or from orphanages, mostly from overseas, at a young age and placed into new homes caused this problem, but this has since been found to be untrue. Children that do not receive the nurturing love, the feeling of safety, and are abused in many different ways will have this disorder. The life of a child diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be extremely difficult due to the characteristic angry outbursts, the habitual telling of untruths, and recurrent stealing which can cause the people around them have a difficult time making a connection with them.

In chapter 10, Emotional Development and Attachment, they describe an attachment as an emotional bond that a child can develop with a person that provides them with a sense of security. In reactive attachment disorder (RAD) a child is unable to form any attachment; “the child is withdrawn from caregivers and shows disturbance in both social and emotional functioning.” The book says that the cause of attachment is because there was no consistence within the caregiving, sensitivity and responsiveness that these children receive. RAD occurs most in children that are raised with multiple changing caregivers, like those that are raised in orphanages. Children raised in a closer setting like a foster care have less of a chance of having RAD.

As human beings, we are fundamentally alone. We come into this world alone and eventually we must die alone, yet, paradoxically, throughout our lives we are inextricably linked to others (O’Donohue & Cucciare, 2010). From birth human infants have a significant period of immaturity and remain dependant on caregivers for a number of years (Dozier & Rutter, 2008). The nature of the early caregiver-infant relationship and the impact this has on later development has been studied over the past century (Bretherton & Munholland, 2008). More specifically, the emotional bond between adult caregiver and child is thought to be vital in laying the foundation on which the child understands themself and the world around them (Speiker, Oxford, Kelly,

Attachment disruptions occur with adults in relationships, however, they can have roots in childhood experiences. Attachment is vital to social and emotional growth in early developmental years (Zeanah & Smyke, 2008). Attachment disorders were a part of the third Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Reactive Attachment Disorder with two subtypes, RAD and disinhibited social engagement disorder is still included in the DSM V (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An increased risk for anxiety disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders has been demonstrated for children exhibiting insecure attachments, primarily

At the root of RAD lies maltreatment that has disrupted a child’s attachment formation process. Attachment occurs when children consider their primary caregivers a source of safety and comfort which they use as a base to explore the world around them (Benoit). Also, the attachment between caregivers and children allows children to develop skills that make personal connections possible. Therefore, attachment serves as an indicator of the relationships children will have with the world (“Reactive Attachment Disorder”). Carl Sheperis et al. explain that attachment is built during a four-stage process starting at birth and ending around two years of age. The first stage occurs immediately after birth and is characterized by children communicating

When children are neglected they don’t learn about love, trust, empathy, and how to interact with others. As a result they may not learn them later in life.

Attachment disorder refers to disorder of mood, behavior or social relationships. It occurs due to failure in a normal attachment to care givers in early childhood that results in behavioral disturbances and problems. Some factors could be neglect, abuse and abrupt separation. In Sam’s case the abrupt separation would be the main factor of the attachment disorder. Emotional and behavioral disturbances are found in young children of school age. However, it can happen in adult age people as well. Two theories about the definition and diagnosis of attachment disorder are known. One is known as an attachment theory that is based on scientific inquiry and the other is clinically based called pseudospecific theory (Berlin,