Reactive attachment disorder

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Complications of reactive attachment disorder can continue into adulthood and can include:

  • Delayed learning or physical growth
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Delinquent or antisocial behavior
  • Relationship problems
  • Temper or anger problems
  • Eating problems, which can lead to malnutrition in severe cases
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Academic problems
  • Drug and alcohol addiction
  • Unemployment or frequent job changes
  • Inappropriate sexual behavior
References
  1. Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 23, 2009.
  2. Reactive attachment disorder. In: Moore DP, et al.: Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/145545363-3/0/1243/32.html?tocnode=52436085&fromURL=32.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02911-6..50032-4_311. Accessed June 23, 2009.
  3. Newman L, et al. Recent advances in the theories of and interventions with attachment disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2007;20:343.
  4. Haugaard JJ, et al. Recognizing and treating uncommon emotional disorders in children and adolescents who have been severely maltreated: Reactive attachment disorder. Child Maltreatment. 2004;9:154.
  5. Cornell T, et al. Clinical interventions for children with attachment problems. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 2008;21:35.
  6. Hanson RF, et al. Reactive attachment disorder: What we know about the disorder and implications for treatment. Child Maltreatment. 2000;5:137.
  7. Report of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Task Force on Attachment Therapy, RAD and Attachment Problems. American Psychiatric Association. http://www.apa.org/divisions/div37/RADTaskForceManuscript.pdf. Accessed July 1, 2009.
  8. Coercive interventions for reactive attachment disorder. Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children. http://www.attach.org/apsac.htm. Accessed July 1, 2009.
  9. Child Abuse and Neglect Committee. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/policy_statements/coercive_interventions_for_reactive_attachment_disorder. Accessed June 29, 2009.

DS00988

July 16, 2009

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