What are the methods for diagnosing RAD?
Top ABC uses a combination of measures to assess whether the child meets crietria for RAD. First of all they need to meet the diagnosis criteria as set-forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV-TR). Then we observe the child with the parent through two child-parent interactions: A.) the Marshack Interaction Method (MIM) and a B.) parent holding exercise. Lastly there are behavioral measures that help us with determining diagnoses. The Child-behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSCL). To fully determine whether a child has RAD a clinician must evaluate the full array of mental health issues and be ready to make a diagnostic impression. Other diagnoses can perpetuate attachment issues such as PTSD, ADHD, Bi-polar disorder. Further, medical conditions can exaserbate attachment issues as well. These all need to be considered. Hence, an evaluation of attachment should not just solely be to determine whether a child has RAD or not.
