About Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive Attachment Disorder (sometimes known as Radical Attachment Disorder is a disorder found in children or young adults who have not formed a strong attachment with their primary caregiver or a young adult who had been neglected in their younger years by their primary caregiver.  It most often happens in adopted children due to feelings of abandonment by their original parents.

There are two primary types of reactive attachment disorder: inhibited and disinhibited. These two types are typically manifested with different types of behavior. Inhibited Reactive Attachment Disorder is typically characterized by detached or unresponsive behaviors, while Dis-inhibited Reactive Disorder is characterized by inappropriately familiar behavior with others.  This disorder is not yet as well researched as some, and there is not yet a generally accepted response and treatment regimen.

Teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder face an inability to form proper relationships with others, either by not allowing or forming inappropriate relationships. If Reactive Attachment Disorder is not treated, the teen may develop social, behavioral, and psychological issues later in life. These teens must be encouraged to form appropriate relationships with those around them.  Treatment begins with assessing the level of detachment and determining whether the child can safely remain in the home.

Often times the caregiver has much to do with the recovery from such a disorder. The relationship between the adolescent and the caregiver needs to be worked on and improved.  Since an attachment disorder is a relational disorder, much of the response is focused on and determined by the parent, whether natural or adoptive.  Though complicated cases tend to receive the most attention, additional study seeks the underlying causes and effective responses for Reactive Attachment Disorder.