Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) occurs when infants do not form healthy emotional attachments with their primary caregivers due to neglect of their emotional and physical needs. Children with RAD experience serious social and emotional neglect early in life which disrupts typical attachment development. Symptoms include being detached, uncaring, defiant, and lacking emotions besides anger. Treatment involves strengthening the relationship between the child and caregiver through therapy. RAD that goes untreated can persist into adulthood as personality disorders due to the brain injury caused by early abuse and neglect.

1. Reactive Attachment Disorder in
Teenagers/ Young Adults
Sadly, childrenwhowere not properlydiagnosed
during their childhood have become teenagers and
adults withRAD. Some symptoms of Reactive
Attachment Disorder inTeens andAdults are:
 Intense Anger
 Hostility
 Views others as undependable
 Avoidance of intimacy
 Difficultygetting alongwith co-workers
 Critical ofothers
 Anxious
 Sensitive to rejection
 Possessive/ Jealous
 Suicide attempts
 Depressed
New relations are affected bythe
expectations developedinpast relationships.
Hannah Muller
mullerh@students.westerntc.edu
Reactive-attachment
Disorder
Reactive-attachment Disorder,
(RAD), is a condition found in
children who have received
grossly negligent care in their
earliest days. And therefore,
do not form a healthy
emotional attachment with
their primary caregivers.
Attachment develops when a
child is repeatedly soothed
comforted, and cared for. And
when the caregiver
consistently meets the child’s
needs. The opposite of
attachment caused by the
absence of emotional warmth
during the first few years of
life.

2. Causes
To feel safe anddeveloptrust, infants andyoung children
need a stable caring environment. Their basic emotional
and physical needs must be consistentlymeet. A child
who’s needs are ignored or meet with a lack of emotional
responses from caregivers does not come to appreciate
care or comfort or form a stable attachment to caregivers.
Risk Factors
The risk of developing reactive attachment disorder from
serious social andemotional neglect or the lackof
opportunityto developstable attachments mayincrease
in childrenwho;
 Live in a childrenhome or other institution
 Frequentlychange foster homes or caregivers
 Have inexperiencedparents
 Have prolongeded separation from parents or
other caregivers due to hospitialization
 Have a mother with postpartum depression
 Are part of an unusuallylarge family, such that
parental time is scaresor available unequal
However, most children who are severelyneglected
don’t develop reactive attachement disorder.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of RADinclude:
 Detached uncaring and defiant
 Unresponsive or resistant to comforting
 Holding back or altogether lack ofemotions
(other than anger)
 Withdrawnor a mixture of approach and
avoidance
Treatment
Childrenwhoexhibit signs ofRAD needa comprehensive
physiatrist assessment andindividualized treatment plan.
Treatment involves both the child and the family.
Therapists focus on understandingand strengtheningthe
relationshipbetweena childandhis/her primary
caregiver.
Parents of a young childthat showsigns or symptoms of
RAD should:
 Seek a comprehensive psychiatric evaluationby
a qualifiedmental healthprofessionalprior to
the initiation ofanytreatment
 Make sure theyunderstand the risks as well as
the potential benefits ofanyintervention
 Feel free to seek a secondopinioniftheyhave
questions/concerns about the diagnosisand/or
treatment plan.
Stereotypes of the disorder
Childrenwhoaren’t effectivelytreatedfor most often
grow into adults with personalitydisorders. RAD is a brain
injurythat typicallyoccurs because of earlyabuse and
neglect. Just as a personcan’t simply“outgrow” brain
disorder ofbipolar disorder, neither cana person simply
outgrow RAD.
Sources:
www.instituteforattachment.ong
www.aacap.org
www.mayoclinic.org