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reactive attachment disorder

MedGen UID:
141906
•Concept ID:
C0525043
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Attachment Disorder, Reactive; Attachment Disorders, Reactive; Disorder, Reactive Attachment; Disorders, Reactive Attachment; Reactive Attachment Disorder; Reactive Attachment Disorders
SNOMED CT: Reactive attachment disorder (41526007)

Definition

Markedly disturbed and developmentally inappropriate social relatedness that begins before age 5 and is associated with grossly pathological child care. The child may persistently fail to initiate and respond to social interactions in a developmentally appropriate way (inhibited type) or there may be a pattern of diffuse attachments with nondiscriminate sociability (disinhibited type). (From DSM-V) [from MeSH]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • reactive attachment disorder

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder in adolescence: co-occurring psychopathology and psychosocial problems.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Lydersen S, Kayed NS
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022 Jan;31(1):85-98. Epub 2020 Nov 13 doi: 10.1007/s00787-020-01673-7. PMID: 33185772Free PMC Article
Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood--clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.
Zeanah CH, Gleason MM
J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015 Mar;56(3):207-22. Epub 2014 Oct 31 doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12347. PMID: 25359236Free PMC Article
Reactive Attachment Disorder: what we know about the disorder and implications for treatment.
Hanson RF, Spratt EG
Child Maltreat 2000 May;5(2):137-45. doi: 10.1177/1077559500005002005. PMID: 11232086

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Attachment Disorders.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2019 Sep-Oct;33(5):612-622. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017. PMID: 31447013
Autism and attachment difficulties: Overlap of symptoms, implications and innovative solutions.
McKenzie R, Dallos R
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017 Oct;22(4):632-648. Epub 2017 May 22 doi: 10.1177/1359104517707323. PMID: 28530116
Mental Disorders in Early Childhood.
von Klitzing K, Döhnert M, Kroll M, Grube M
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015 May 25;112(21-22):375-86; quiz 386. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0375. PMID: 26149380Free PMC Article
The significance of insecure attachment and disorganization in the development of children's externalizing behavior: a meta-analytic study.
Fearon RP, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van Ijzendoorn MH, Lapsley AM, Roisman GI
Child Dev 2010 Mar-Apr;81(2):435-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01405.x. PMID: 20438450
Reactive attachment disorder.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):234-9. Epub 2008 Mar 5 doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2007.07.003. PMID: 18590868

Diagnosis

A Systematic Review of Mental Health Disorders of Children in Foster Care.
Engler AD, Sarpong KO, Van Horne BS, Greeley CS, Keefe RJ
Trauma Violence Abuse 2022 Jan;23(1):255-264. Epub 2020 Jul 20 doi: 10.1177/1524838020941197. PMID: 32686611
Attachment Disorders.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2019 Sep-Oct;33(5):612-622. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017. PMID: 31447013
Misperceptions of reactive attachment disorder persist: Poor methods and unsupported conclusions.
Allen B
Res Dev Disabil 2018 Jun;77:24-29. Epub 2018 Apr 5 doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.012. PMID: 29626664
Reactive attachment disorder.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):234-9. Epub 2008 Mar 5 doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2007.07.003. PMID: 18590868
Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: attachment theory, psychopathy, and predatory aggression.
Arrigo BA, Griffin A
Behav Sci Law 2004;22(3):375-93. doi: 10.1002/bsl.583. PMID: 15211558

Therapy

A prospective longitudinal study of Reactive Attachment Disorder following early institutional care: considering variable- and person-centered approaches.
Guyon-Harris KL, Humphreys KL, Degnan K, Fox NA, Nelson CA, Zeanah CH
Attach Hum Dev 2019 Apr;21(2):95-110. Epub 2018 Jul 23 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2018.1499208. PMID: 30037301Free PMC Article
Insecure Adult Attachment and Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis.
Lo CKM, Chan KL, Ip P
Trauma Violence Abuse 2019 Dec;20(5):706-719. Epub 2017 Sep 7 doi: 10.1177/1524838017730579. PMID: 29333992
Decreasing rates of disorganised attachment in infants and young children, who are at risk of developing, or who already have disorganised attachment. A systematic review and meta-analysis of early parenting interventions.
Wright B, Hackney L, Hughes E, Barry M, Glaser D, Prior V, Allgar V, Marshall D, Barrow J, Kirby N, Garside M, Kaushal P, Perry A, McMillan D
PLoS One 2017;12(7):e0180858. Epub 2017 Jul 14 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180858. PMID: 28708838Free PMC Article
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INDISCRIMINATE FRIENDLINESS IN HIGH-RISK CHILDREN.
Love L, Minnis H, O'connor S
Infant Ment Health J 2015 Jul-Aug;36(4):427-45. Epub 2015 Jun 19 doi: 10.1002/imhj.21520. PMID: 26096595
Understanding and promoting attachment.
Wilson SL
J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2009 Aug;47(8):23-7. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20090706-04. PMID: 19681518

Prognosis

A Systematic Review of Mental Health Disorders of Children in Foster Care.
Engler AD, Sarpong KO, Van Horne BS, Greeley CS, Keefe RJ
Trauma Violence Abuse 2022 Jan;23(1):255-264. Epub 2020 Jul 20 doi: 10.1177/1524838020941197. PMID: 32686611
Self-esteem in adolescents with reactive attachment disorder or disinhibited social engagement disorder.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Lydersen S, Kayed NS
Child Abuse Negl 2021 Aug;118:105141. Epub 2021 Jun 2 doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105141. PMID: 34089987
Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers.
Granqvist P, Sroufe LA, Dozier M, Hesse E, Steele M, van Ijzendoorn M, Solomon J, Schuengel C, Fearon P, Bakermans-Kranenburg M, Steele H, Cassidy J, Carlson E, Madigan S, Jacobvitz D, Foster S, Behrens K, Rifkin-Graboi A, Gribneau N, Spangler G, Ward MJ, True M, Spieker S, Reijman S, Reisz S, Tharner A, Nkara F, Goldwyn R, Sroufe J, Pederson D, Pederson D, Weigand R, Siegel D, Dazzi N, Bernard K, Fonagy P, Waters E, Toth S, Cicchetti D, Zeanah CH, Lyons-Ruth K, Main M, Duschinsky R
Attach Hum Dev 2017 Dec;19(6):534-558. Epub 2017 Jul 26 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1354040. PMID: 28745146Free PMC Article
Associations Between Parental Attachment and Course of Depression Between Adolescence and Young Adulthood.
Agerup T, Lydersen S, Wallander J, Sund AM
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2015 Aug;46(4):632-42. doi: 10.1007/s10578-014-0506-y. PMID: 25319511
Reactive attachment disorder in the general population: a hidden ESSENCE disorder.
Pritchett R, Pritchett J, Marshall E, Davidson C, Minnis H
ScientificWorldJournal 2013;2013:818157. Epub 2013 Apr 18 doi: 10.1155/2013/818157. PMID: 23710150Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

A Systematic Review of Mental Health Disorders of Children in Foster Care.
Engler AD, Sarpong KO, Van Horne BS, Greeley CS, Keefe RJ
Trauma Violence Abuse 2022 Jan;23(1):255-264. Epub 2020 Jul 20 doi: 10.1177/1524838020941197. PMID: 32686611
Reactive Attachment Disorder in maltreated young children in foster care.
Bruce M, Young D, Turnbull S, Rooksby M, Chadwick G, Oates C, Nelson R, Young-Southward G, Haig C, Minnis H
Attach Hum Dev 2019 Apr;21(2):152-169. Epub 2018 Jul 18 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2018.1499211. PMID: 30021488
Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers.
Granqvist P, Sroufe LA, Dozier M, Hesse E, Steele M, van Ijzendoorn M, Solomon J, Schuengel C, Fearon P, Bakermans-Kranenburg M, Steele H, Cassidy J, Carlson E, Madigan S, Jacobvitz D, Foster S, Behrens K, Rifkin-Graboi A, Gribneau N, Spangler G, Ward MJ, True M, Spieker S, Reijman S, Reisz S, Tharner A, Nkara F, Goldwyn R, Sroufe J, Pederson D, Pederson D, Weigand R, Siegel D, Dazzi N, Bernard K, Fonagy P, Waters E, Toth S, Cicchetti D, Zeanah CH, Lyons-Ruth K, Main M, Duschinsky R
Attach Hum Dev 2017 Dec;19(6):534-558. Epub 2017 Jul 26 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1354040. PMID: 28745146Free PMC Article
Autism and reactive attachment/disinhibited social engagement disorders: Co-occurrence and differentiation.
Mayes SD, Calhoun SL, Waschbusch DA, Baweja R
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017 Oct;22(4):620-631. Epub 2016 Nov 28 doi: 10.1177/1359104516678039. PMID: 27895198
The significance of insecure attachment and disorganization in the development of children's externalizing behavior: a meta-analytic study.
Fearon RP, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van Ijzendoorn MH, Lapsley AM, Roisman GI
Child Dev 2010 Mar-Apr;81(2):435-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01405.x. PMID: 20438450

Recent systematic reviews

A Systematic Review of Mental Health Disorders of Children in Foster Care.
Engler AD, Sarpong KO, Van Horne BS, Greeley CS, Keefe RJ
Trauma Violence Abuse 2022 Jan;23(1):255-264. Epub 2020 Jul 20 doi: 10.1177/1524838020941197. PMID: 32686611
Attachment, Development, and Mental Health in Abused and Neglected Preschool Children in Foster Care: A Meta-Analysis.
Vasileva M, Petermann F
Trauma Violence Abuse 2018 Oct;19(4):443-458. Epub 2016 Sep 22 doi: 10.1177/1524838016669503. PMID: 27663993
Decreasing rates of disorganised attachment in infants and young children, who are at risk of developing, or who already have disorganised attachment. A systematic review and meta-analysis of early parenting interventions.
Wright B, Hackney L, Hughes E, Barry M, Glaser D, Prior V, Allgar V, Marshall D, Barrow J, Kirby N, Garside M, Kaushal P, Perry A, McMillan D
PLoS One 2017;12(7):e0180858. Epub 2017 Jul 14 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180858. PMID: 28708838Free PMC Article
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of parenting interventions for children with severe attachment problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wright B, Barry M, Hughes E, Trépel D, Ali S, Allgar V, Cottrill L, Duffy S, Fell J, Glanville J, Glaser D, Hackney L, Manea L, McMillan D, Palmer S, Prior V, Whitton C, Perry A, Gilbody S
Health Technol Assess 2015 Jul;19(52):vii-xxviii, 1-347. doi: 10.3310/hta19520. PMID: 26177494Free PMC Article
Disruptive behaviour disorders: a systematic review of environmental antenatal and early years risk factors.
Latimer K, Wilson P, Kemp J, Thompson L, Sim F, Gillberg C, Puckering C, Minnis H
Child Care Health Dev 2012 Sep;38(5):611-28. Epub 2012 Feb 28 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01366.x. PMID: 22372737

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