Adoptive and Foster Children: Attachment

Disorder: R.A.D.Mackenzie Grimes

R.A.D. – Reactive Attachment Disorder

• Commonly seen in:• Adoptive Children• Children with multiple foster placements

• Starts during infancy• Difficulty in developing strong, lasting, and loving relationships • No close relationship with caregiver

• “During the first year of life, infants are social being whose sensory systems focus on interacting with their primary caregivers.” (Hughes, 1999)

• First attachment places a huge role in all the relationships that individual will have for the rest of their life

Development

• Lacking:• Empathy for others• Limited awareness of the consequences of his behavior• Little guilt and remorse• Difficulty expressing thoughts and feelings• Poor discrimination among relationships• Poor regulation of bodily functions• Poor display of emotions

(Hughes, 1999)

Helping the Victims

• A BONDING RELATIONSHIP CAN BE MADE!• “Therapy consisted of family-focused counseling addressing current

behavioral and discipline issues, the child’s understanding of his history of neglect and abuse, and active intensive bonding of the child and parent through emotional catharsis and the use of holding.” (Bordnick, Vonk, & Wimmer, 2009)

• Holding Therapy• The child is held on the parent’s lap in a nurturing cradle (as one would

feed and infant)• Done at the request and consent of the parent and child

Helping the Victims (Cont.d)• Warm, loving, and affectionate eye contact between the child and the

caregiver• More likely to reciprocate

• Touch between caregiver and child• Holding• Hugging

• Movement• Rocking• Bouncing• Dancing

Child Placement

• Crucial that the child is placed with a family who is willing to put in:• Time• Effort• Love

• Knowledge of the child’s past• Caregiver has strong emotional self

• Can handle whatever is thrown at them

• “The ability to regulate their own emotions, deal with their child’s rejection of them without taking it personally, and relate to their child with affection and empathy while remaining firm and persistent in socializing their child.” (Hughes, 1999)

Future for R.A.D Victims

• Difficulties in creating and keeping relationships• Unlikely to have any affectionate or intimate relationships

• “These people believe that they are capable of looking after themselves, providing for their own needs, and safety, without any help.” (Baxamusa, 2010)

• Even without trying – may be shutout by peers• Seen as cold and unfriendly

• If left untreated - could be passed onto next generation

Adult R.A.D

• Behavioral Subtype• Inhibited

• Makes the individual cringe away from any and all forms of human contact

• Disinhibited• Causes the person to demand attention and affection from familiar

people as well as complete strangers

Do not give up on treatments – breaking the cycle is the one of the greatest achievements in a lifetime of a

suffering individual.

References(2008). Living With RAD. RAD Moms.Baxamusa, B. N. (2010). Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults. Buzzle. Bordnick, P., Vonk, M. E., Wimmer, J. S., (2009). A Preliminary Investigation of the

Effectivness of Attachment Therapy for Adopted Children with Reactive AttachmentDisorder. Child Adolescence Soc Work 26:351-360.

Fearnly, S., Howe, D. (2003). Disorders of Attachment in Adopted and Fostered Children: Recognition and Treatment. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 8(3): 369-387.

Forbes, H. (2007). Reactive Attachment Disorder: A New Understanding. Beyond ConsequencesInstitute.

Hughes, D. A., (1999) Adopting Children with Attachment Problems. Child Welfare League of America 541-559.

Richters, M. M., (1993) Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood. ChildAdolescence Psychiatry 33:3.

Shi, L. (2014) Treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder in Young Children: Importance ofUnderstanding Emotional Dynamics. The American Journal of Family Therapy 42:1-13.

Thomas, N. What is Reactive Attachment Disorder?