REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER

Course overview

THE DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL 5TH EDITION (DSM-5) CLASSIFIES REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER AS A TRAUMA- AND STRESSOR-RELATED CONDITION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CAUSED BY SOCIAL NEGLECT AND MALTREATMENT. AFFECTED CHILDREN HAVE DIFFICULTY FORMING EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS TO OTHERS, SHOW A DECREASED ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE POSITIVE EMOTION, CANNOT SEEK OR ACCEPT PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS, AND MAY REACT VIOLENTLY WHEN HELD, CUDDLED, OR COMFORTED. BEHAVIORALLY, AFFECTED CHILDREN ARE UNPREDICTABLE, DIFFICULT TO CONSOLE, AND DIFFICULT TO DISCIPLINE. MOODS FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY, AND CHILDREN MAY SEEM TO LIVE IN A FIGHT, FLIGHT, OR FREEZE MODE. MOST HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO CONTROL THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF TEAM-BASED INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.