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reactive attachment disorder

MedGen UID:
141906
•Concept ID:
C0525043
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Attachment Disorder, Reactive; Attachment Disorders, Reactive; Disorder, Reactive Attachment; Disorders, Reactive Attachment; Reactive Attachment Disorder; Reactive Attachment Disorders
SNOMED CT: Reactive attachment disorder (41526007)

Definition

Markedly disturbed and developmentally inappropriate social relatedness that begins before age 5 and is associated with grossly pathological child care. The child may persistently fail to initiate and respond to social interactions in a developmentally appropriate way (inhibited type) or there may be a pattern of diffuse attachments with nondiscriminate sociability (disinhibited type). (From DSM-V) [from MeSH]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • reactive attachment disorder

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder in adolescence: co-occurring psychopathology and psychosocial problems.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Lydersen S, Kayed NS
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022 Jan;31(1):85-98. Epub 2020 Nov 13 doi: 10.1007/s00787-020-01673-7. PMID: 33185772Free PMC Article
Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood--clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.
Zeanah CH, Gleason MM
J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015 Mar;56(3):207-22. Epub 2014 Oct 31 doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12347. PMID: 25359236Free PMC Article
Reactive Attachment Disorder: what we know about the disorder and implications for treatment.
Hanson RF, Spratt EG
Child Maltreat 2000 May;5(2):137-45. doi: 10.1177/1077559500005002005. PMID: 11232086

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Perinatal risk factors and reactive attachment disorder: A nationwide population-based study.
Upadhyaya S, Chudal R, Luntamo T, Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki S, Sucksdorff M, Lehtonen L, Sourander A
Acta Paediatr 2020 Aug;109(8):1603-1611. Epub 2020 Jan 24 doi: 10.1111/apa.15156. PMID: 31899934
Validity of reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder in adolescence.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Kayed NS
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020 Oct;29(10):1465-1476. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1007/s00787-019-01456-9. PMID: 31832788Free PMC Article
Attachment Disorders.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2019 Sep-Oct;33(5):612-622. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017. PMID: 31447013
Autism and attachment difficulties: Overlap of symptoms, implications and innovative solutions.
McKenzie R, Dallos R
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017 Oct;22(4):632-648. Epub 2017 May 22 doi: 10.1177/1359104517707323. PMID: 28530116
Reactive attachment disorder.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):234-9. Epub 2008 Mar 5 doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2007.07.003. PMID: 18590868

Diagnosis

Attachment Disorders.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2019 Sep-Oct;33(5):612-622. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017. PMID: 31447013
Misperceptions of reactive attachment disorder persist: Poor methods and unsupported conclusions.
Allen B
Res Dev Disabil 2018 Jun;77:24-29. Epub 2018 Apr 5 doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.012. PMID: 29626664
Autism and attachment difficulties: Overlap of symptoms, implications and innovative solutions.
McKenzie R, Dallos R
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017 Oct;22(4):632-648. Epub 2017 May 22 doi: 10.1177/1359104517707323. PMID: 28530116
Reactive attachment disorder.
Hornor G
J Pediatr Health Care 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):234-9. Epub 2008 Mar 5 doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2007.07.003. PMID: 18590868
Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: attachment theory, psychopathy, and predatory aggression.
Arrigo BA, Griffin A
Behav Sci Law 2004;22(3):375-93. doi: 10.1002/bsl.583. PMID: 15211558

Therapy

The relationship between attachment insecurity and experiences on the paranoia continuum: A meta-analysis.
Murphy R, Goodall K, Woodrow A
Br J Clin Psychol 2020 Sep;59(3):290-318. Epub 2020 Mar 30 doi: 10.1111/bjc.12247. PMID: 32227508
Insecure Adult Attachment and Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis.
Lo CKM, Chan KL, Ip P
Trauma Violence Abuse 2019 Dec;20(5):706-719. Epub 2017 Sep 7 doi: 10.1177/1524838017730579. PMID: 29333992
Depression with or without comorbid social anxiety: Is attachment the culprit?
Adams GC, Wrath AJ, Mondal P, Asmundson GJG
Psychiatry Res 2018 Nov;269:86-92. Epub 2018 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.037. PMID: 30145307
Decreasing rates of disorganised attachment in infants and young children, who are at risk of developing, or who already have disorganised attachment. A systematic review and meta-analysis of early parenting interventions.
Wright B, Hackney L, Hughes E, Barry M, Glaser D, Prior V, Allgar V, Marshall D, Barrow J, Kirby N, Garside M, Kaushal P, Perry A, McMillan D
PLoS One 2017;12(7):e0180858. Epub 2017 Jul 14 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180858. PMID: 28708838Free PMC Article
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INDISCRIMINATE FRIENDLINESS IN HIGH-RISK CHILDREN.
Love L, Minnis H, O'connor S
Infant Ment Health J 2015 Jul-Aug;36(4):427-45. Epub 2015 Jun 19 doi: 10.1002/imhj.21520. PMID: 26096595

Prognosis

Self-esteem in adolescents with reactive attachment disorder or disinhibited social engagement disorder.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Lydersen S, Kayed NS
Child Abuse Negl 2021 Aug;118:105141. Epub 2021 Jun 2 doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105141. PMID: 34089987
Gambling and Attachment: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in Adolescents and Young Adults.
Estévez A, Jauregui P, Macía L, López-González H
J Gambl Stud 2021 Jun;37(2):497-514. doi: 10.1007/s10899-020-09965-y. PMID: 32728984
Relationship of bipolar disorder with psychiatric comorbidity in the postpartum period-a scoping review.
Sharma V
Arch Womens Ment Health 2018 Apr;21(2):141-147. Epub 2017 Oct 24 doi: 10.1007/s00737-017-0782-1. PMID: 29067549
Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers.
Granqvist P, Sroufe LA, Dozier M, Hesse E, Steele M, van Ijzendoorn M, Solomon J, Schuengel C, Fearon P, Bakermans-Kranenburg M, Steele H, Cassidy J, Carlson E, Madigan S, Jacobvitz D, Foster S, Behrens K, Rifkin-Graboi A, Gribneau N, Spangler G, Ward MJ, True M, Spieker S, Reijman S, Reisz S, Tharner A, Nkara F, Goldwyn R, Sroufe J, Pederson D, Pederson D, Weigand R, Siegel D, Dazzi N, Bernard K, Fonagy P, Waters E, Toth S, Cicchetti D, Zeanah CH, Lyons-Ruth K, Main M, Duschinsky R
Attach Hum Dev 2017 Dec;19(6):534-558. Epub 2017 Jul 26 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1354040. PMID: 28745146Free PMC Article
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INDISCRIMINATE FRIENDLINESS IN HIGH-RISK CHILDREN.
Love L, Minnis H, O'connor S
Infant Ment Health J 2015 Jul-Aug;36(4):427-45. Epub 2015 Jun 19 doi: 10.1002/imhj.21520. PMID: 26096595

Clinical prediction guides

Changes in Attachment Disorder symptoms in children internationally adopted and in residential care.
Román M, Palacios J, Minnis H
Child Abuse Negl 2022 Aug;130(Pt 2):105308. Epub 2021 Sep 17 doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105308. PMID: 34544592
Self-esteem in adolescents with reactive attachment disorder or disinhibited social engagement disorder.
Seim AR, Jozefiak T, Wichstrøm L, Lydersen S, Kayed NS
Child Abuse Negl 2021 Aug;118:105141. Epub 2021 Jun 2 doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105141. PMID: 34089987
Gambling and Attachment: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in Adolescents and Young Adults.
Estévez A, Jauregui P, Macía L, López-González H
J Gambl Stud 2021 Jun;37(2):497-514. doi: 10.1007/s10899-020-09965-y. PMID: 32728984
Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers.
Granqvist P, Sroufe LA, Dozier M, Hesse E, Steele M, van Ijzendoorn M, Solomon J, Schuengel C, Fearon P, Bakermans-Kranenburg M, Steele H, Cassidy J, Carlson E, Madigan S, Jacobvitz D, Foster S, Behrens K, Rifkin-Graboi A, Gribneau N, Spangler G, Ward MJ, True M, Spieker S, Reijman S, Reisz S, Tharner A, Nkara F, Goldwyn R, Sroufe J, Pederson D, Pederson D, Weigand R, Siegel D, Dazzi N, Bernard K, Fonagy P, Waters E, Toth S, Cicchetti D, Zeanah CH, Lyons-Ruth K, Main M, Duschinsky R
Attach Hum Dev 2017 Dec;19(6):534-558. Epub 2017 Jul 26 doi: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1354040. PMID: 28745146Free PMC Article
Autism and reactive attachment/disinhibited social engagement disorders: Co-occurrence and differentiation.
Mayes SD, Calhoun SL, Waschbusch DA, Baweja R
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017 Oct;22(4):620-631. Epub 2016 Nov 28 doi: 10.1177/1359104516678039. PMID: 27895198

Recent systematic reviews

Insecure Adult Attachment and Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis.
Lo CKM, Chan KL, Ip P
Trauma Violence Abuse 2019 Dec;20(5):706-719. Epub 2017 Sep 7 doi: 10.1177/1524838017730579. PMID: 29333992
Attachment, Development, and Mental Health in Abused and Neglected Preschool Children in Foster Care: A Meta-Analysis.
Vasileva M, Petermann F
Trauma Violence Abuse 2018 Oct;19(4):443-458. Epub 2016 Sep 22 doi: 10.1177/1524838016669503. PMID: 27663993
Decreasing rates of disorganised attachment in infants and young children, who are at risk of developing, or who already have disorganised attachment. A systematic review and meta-analysis of early parenting interventions.
Wright B, Hackney L, Hughes E, Barry M, Glaser D, Prior V, Allgar V, Marshall D, Barrow J, Kirby N, Garside M, Kaushal P, Perry A, McMillan D
PLoS One 2017;12(7):e0180858. Epub 2017 Jul 14 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180858. PMID: 28708838Free PMC Article
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of parenting interventions for children with severe attachment problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wright B, Barry M, Hughes E, Trépel D, Ali S, Allgar V, Cottrill L, Duffy S, Fell J, Glanville J, Glaser D, Hackney L, Manea L, McMillan D, Palmer S, Prior V, Whitton C, Perry A, Gilbody S
Health Technol Assess 2015 Jul;19(52):vii-xxviii, 1-347. doi: 10.3310/hta19520. PMID: 26177494Free PMC Article
Disruptive behaviour disorders: a systematic review of environmental antenatal and early years risk factors.
Latimer K, Wilson P, Kemp J, Thompson L, Sim F, Gillberg C, Puckering C, Minnis H
Child Care Health Dev 2012 Sep;38(5):611-28. Epub 2012 Feb 28 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01366.x. PMID: 22372737

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