Articles: Case Study
Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood

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ABSTRACT

Since its introduction into DSM-III, reactive attachment disorder has stood curiously apart from other diagnoses for two reasons: it remains the only diagnosis designed for infants, and it requires the presence of a specific etiology. This paper describes the pattern of disturbances demonstrated by some children who meet DSM-III-R criteria for reactive attachment disorder. Three suggestions are made: (1) the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic concept may be enhanced by including criteria detailing the developmental problems exhibited by these children; (2) the etiological requirement should be discarded given the difficulties inherent in obtaining complete histories for these children, as well as its inconsistency with ICD-10, and (3) the diagnosis arguably is not a disorder of attachment but rather a Syndrome of atypical development.

Key Words

reactive attachment disorder
maltreatment
DSM-III-R

Cited by (0)

The authors thank John Richters, Ph.D., and Gary Racusin, Ph.D., for their editorial assistance.

The names and certain details of the cases have been altered to protect the identity and confidentiality of the families involved.