Reactive attachment disorder

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Original Article:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reactive-attachment-disorder/DS00988

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Definition

Reactive attachment disorder is a rare but serious condition in which infants and young children don't establish healthy bonds with parents or caregivers.
A child with reactive attachment disorder is typically neglected, abused or orphaned. Reactive attachment disorder develops because the child's basic needs for comfort, affection and nurturing aren't met and loving, caring attachments with others are never established. This may permanently change the child's growing brain, hurting the ability to establish future relationships.
Reactive attachment disorder is a lifelong condition, but with treatment children can develop more stable and healthy relationships with caregivers and others. Safe and proven treatments for reactive attachment disorder include psychological counseling and parent or caregiver education.

Symptoms

Reactive attachment disorder begins before age 5. Signs and symptoms of the disorder may begin when the child is still an infant.
Signs and symptoms in babies may include:

• Withdrawn, sad and listless appearance
• Failure to smile
• Lack of the normal tendency to follow others in the room with the eyes
• Failure to reach out when picked up
• No interest in playing peekaboo or other interactive games
• No interest in playing with toys
• Engaging in self-soothing behavior, such as rocking or self-stroking
• Calm when left alone

Signs and symptoms in toddlers, older children and adolescents may include:

• Withdrawing from others
• Avoiding or dismissing comforting comments or gestures
• Acting aggressively toward peers
• Watching others closely but not engaging in social interaction
• Failing to ask for support or assistance
• Obvious and consistent awkwardness or discomfort
• Masking feelings of anger or distress
• Alcohol or drug abuse in adolescents

As children with reactive attachment disorder grow older, they may develop either inhibited or disinhibited behavior patterns. While some children have signs and symptoms of just one type of behavior, many exhibit both types.

• Inhibited behavior. Children with inhibited behavior shun relationships and attachments to virtually everyone. This may happen when a baby never has the chance to develop an attachment to any caregiver.
• Disinhibited behavior. Children with disinhibited behavior seek attention from virtually everyone, including strangers. This may happen when a baby has multiple caregivers or frequent changes in caregivers. Children with this type of reactive attachment disorder may frequently ask for help doing tasks, have inappropriately childish behavior or appear anxious.

There's little research on signs and symptoms of reactive attachment disorder beyond early childhood. It may lead to controlling, aggressive or delinquent behaviors, trouble relating to peers, and other problems. While treatment can help children and adults cope with reactive attachment disorder, the changes that occur during early childhood are permanent and the disorder is a lifelong challenge.
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*Still think snatching kids for a living isn't child abuse? Best interest for the child? Child Protective Services? One would have to [literally] be brain dead not to see the harm done by social services, CPS or what ever name change they use to protect the guilty. Let's not forget the other group. One group steals the kids... the other group makes it look legal. They all make tons of money... damn the kids.


*The posts made in this blog are of our opinion only* Without Prejudice UCC 1-207