Attachment and Behavioural Disorders Flashcards
When does reactive attachment disorder (RAD) usually develop, and when does it usually present?
Usually develops before the age of 5
Does not present until teenage years but can be traced back
What disturbance’s in a young child’s upbringing can predispose to an attachment disorder?
- persistent disregard for child’s emotional needs (e.g. comfort, stimulation, and affection)
- Persistent disregard for child’s physical needs
- Repeated changes of primary caregivers
What are the main difficulties of an attachment disorder?
- difficulty forming lasting/intimate relationships
Medically:
- malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and growth delay
- evidence of physical abuse
What is the prevalence of attachment disorders in children, and in what environments is this higher?
1% for population
20% of children in care
Increased likelihood if child is orphaned
What is the earliest that an attachment disorder can really be noticed?
2 months
What are the two subtypes of RAD?
Inhibited
Disinhibited
Describe Inhibited RAD
- children continually respond to social interactions in an inappropriate way
- they use various approaches, avoidance, resist comfort
- often hypervigilant or highly ambivalent
A child or infant that does not seek comfort from a parent or caregiver during times of threat, alarm or distress is an example of which subtype of RAD?
Inhibited
Describe Disinhibited RAD and how its different from inhibited RAD
Disinhibited = child has an inability to display appropriate selective attachments Inhibited = disability to form any attachment
Give an example of a child who has Disinhibited RAD
child displays excessive familiarity with strangers
=> lack of selectivity in their choices of attachment figure
Why is attachment important?
Development of an attachment disorder can affect a healthy personality and result in a personality disorder later in life
What elements are involved in a healthy personality, that are often lost if there is an attachment disorder?
- Development of a conscience
- Ability to become self-reliant
- Ability to think logically
- Ability to cope with frustration and stress
- Ability to handle fear or a threat to self
- Development of relationships
What specific causes are related to the development of an attachment disorder?
- Frequent changes in primary caregiver
- Extended separation from the parent/primary caregiver
- Frequent moves in foster care/ institutions
- Parental Neglect
- Abuse
- Potential neurodevelopmental difficulties (e.g. Autism = often found in combination with attachment disorders)
What symptoms in young children should raise urgent concerns of an attachment disorder?
- Persistent/medically unexplained severe Colic
- Poor eye contact
- No reciprocal smile
- Delayed gross motor skill development
- Difficulty being comforted
- Resists affection
- Poor sucking response when eating
What symptoms commonly present in older children with attachment disorders?
- impulsive
- Speech and language delays
- Lack of conscience / no empathy
- often in others personal space
- Indiscriminately affectionate with strangers
- Avoids/overseeks physical contact
- Hyperactive
- Aggressive
- Destructive towards self/property/others
- Food issues: gorges, refuses to eat, hides food
- Prefers to play alone
Why is important to look behind the anger of an aggressive child with an attachment disorder?
- anger has resulted from past experiences of humiliation where they are made to feel worthless
=> the anger is to stop them from feeling this way again and we must understand this when consulting with them