Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood
Definition
Reactive attachment disorder is a disturbance of social interaction caused by neglect of a child's basic physical and emotional needs, particularly during infancy.
Babies placed in orphanages at birth and raised by multiple caretakers without primary parent-figures can also develop this disorder, even if physical care was adequate.
Causes
Reactive attachment disorder is caused by neglect of an infant's needs for physical safety, food, touching, and emotional bonds with a primary and/or secondary caretaker.
The risk of neglect to the infant or child is increased with parental isolation, lack of parenting skills, teen parents, or a caregiver who is mentally retarded. A frequent change in caregivers (for example, orphanages or foster care) is another cause of reactive attachment disorder.
Children adopted from foreign orphanages are commonly affected, particularly if they were removed from their birth parents during the first weeks of life.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.