Reactive attachment disorder

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Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a rare but serious condition in which an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments with parents or caregivers. Reactive attachment disorder may develop if the child's basic needs for comfort, affection and nurturing aren't met and loving, caring, stable attachments with others are not established.

Pronunciation

Reactive Attachment Disorder is pronounced as /riˈæktɪv əˈtæʃmənt dɪsˈɔːrdər/.

Etymology

The term "Reactive Attachment Disorder" is derived from the word "reactive," which means showing a response to a stimulus, and "attachment disorder," which refers to a broad category of psychological disorders characterized by difficulty forming normal relationships.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder may include:

  • Unexplained withdrawal, fear, sadness or irritability
  • Sad and listless appearance
  • Not seeking comfort or showing no response when comfort is given
  • Failure to smile
  • Watching others closely but not engaging in social interaction
  • Failing to ask for support or assistance
  • Failure to reach out when picked up
  • No interest in playing interactive games
  • No interest in playing peekaboo

Causes

Reactive Attachment Disorder can develop when a child's basic needs for comfort, affection and nurturing aren't met, and loving, caring, stable attachments with others are not established. This may occur when:

  • A baby cries and no one responds or offers comfort.
  • A baby is hungry or wet, and they aren't attended to for hours.
  • No one looks at, talks to or smiles at the baby, so the baby is left alone most of the time.
  • The baby is moved from one caregiver to another, so they can't establish a stable, caring relationship.

Related Terms

Treatment

Treatment for Reactive Attachment Disorder usually involves a combination of therapy, counseling, and parenting education. It's important that the child is in a safe environment where they can develop stable attachments. The primary treatment for RAD is Psychotherapy, which is a type of counseling. Other treatments may include Social Skills Training, Parenting Skills Training, and Family Therapy.

See Also

External links

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