Verified By Apollo Pediatrician October 26, 2021
2579Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is when an baby or a child fails to form a secure attachment with their primary caretaker. As a result, these children face problems in managing emotions and find establishing and maintaining relationships difficult. Children between 9 months to 5 years of age who have experienced neglect or abuse are more likely to develop this disorder.
The exact cause of reactive attachment disorder is not known, but researchers and psychologists believe that when the needs of a child are not met (physical and emotional), it gives a message to the child that their needs don’t matter. This leads to the development of the disorder. Other than building and maintaining relationships, it affects different domains of life. For example, it could affect educational performance and lead to psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, inappropriate sexual behavior, anti-social behavior, etc.
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Some of the prevalent symptoms of reactive attachment disorder are,
You should consult a doctor if:
If any of the above symptoms are evident in your child’s behavior, you should consider evaluation.
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Every child has a unique environment at home and every parent offers the best possible resources and nourishment to raise their child. Still, some factors may lead to the development of reactive attachment disorder. Some of the preventive measures you can take as a parent or caregiver to help a child to develop a strong attachment bond are as follows:
As RAD is a psychological disorder, it is treated with psychological interventions as well. Some of the treatment methods for RAD are as follows:
Reactive attachment disorder is a psychological disorder that develops when a child senses a lack of importance and their needs are not met. It profoundly affects a child ,who develops an aversion for caregivers. An early diagnosis and intervention could lead to better outcomes and help a child establish a strong emotional bond with the caregiver or parents.
No, the mere presence of a couple of symptoms doesn’t qualify your child to have the disorder. You should consult a psychologist or a psychiatrist to confirm the presence of the same.
Yes, the disorder is treatable. A psychotherapist or psychologist could treat the disorder competently as they are experts in this field. The treatment often leads to good outcomes.
Yes, it could lead to other problems in children such as eating disorders, difficulty in academics, anxiety, etc.
Our team of expert Pediatricians, who bring years of clinical experience treating simple-to-complicated medical conditions in children, help us to consistently create high-quality, empathetic and engaging content to empower readers make an informed decision.
July 7, 2023