Attachment disorder

Attachment disorder is a broad term intended to describe disorders of mood, behavior, and social relationships arising from a failure to form normal attachments to primary care giving figures in early childhood. Such a failure would result from unusual early experiences of neglect, abuse, abrupt separation from caregivers between 6 months and three years of age, frequent change or excessive numbers of caregivers, or lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts. Not all children who have these experiences have an attachment disorder.

Causes

The causes of attachment disorders are still not fully understood. However, it is generally agreed that attachment disorders develop as a result of a combination of genetic, social, and environmental factors. Some of the factors that may contribute to the development of attachment disorders include:

• Neglect or abuse in early childhood
• Frequent changes in caregivers
• Lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts
• Abrupt separation from caregivers between 6 months and three years of age

Symptoms

The symptoms of attachment disorders can vary widely, but may include:

• Difficulty forming emotional attachments to others
• Resistance to comforting
• Extreme need for control
• Anger problems
• Difficulty showing genuine care and affection
• An underdeveloped conscience

Treatment

Treatment for attachment disorders typically involves a combination of therapy, counseling, and education. This may include:

• Psychotherapy for the child and family
• Social skills training
• Parenting classes
• School-based interventions

See also

• Attachment theory
• Child development
• Child psychology
• Developmental psychology

References

Attachment disorder Resources
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