What is meant by the Diagnoses of “Attachment Disorder” or Reactive Attachment Disorder?
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) of Childhood is a very specific diagnosis that can only be made by a qualified psychiatrist, psychologist or physician, as with other formal diagnoses. RAD refers to the very limited set of circumstances in which a child is thought to not have the opportunity to develop any attachment to a caregiver. Pathogenic care such as severe abuse and neglect or institutionalization is thought to “cause” the disturbance. The onset of the problems must begin before age five, and cannot be due to another mental health or developmental problem. Some children with RAD show a pattern of undifferentiated attachment behaviour (disinhibited form), where they will seek support or proximity to any adult; these children may be seen as having “boundary” issues and behave in an unsafe manner (e.g. running off in public). Other children with RAD simply cannot or do not seek or respond to any comfort, even when very distressed or hurt (inhibited form). Other behavioural correl
