Home › What is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?

What is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?

What is RAD?

Prevalence 

  • The prevalence of RAD increases when children are exposed to maltreatment in early life or are placed in foster care
  • The prevalence of RAD in Non-institutionalized children previously exposed to early maltreatment represents about 38-40% of maltreated children
  • However the prevalence of RAD in the General community is usually rare unless children are exposed to an early high risk environment or neglect
  • Prevalence rates likely increase when mothers of maltreated toddlers have a history of psychiatric illness or substance abuse
  • It is important to note that the prevalence of RAD behavior begins to decline after exposed to adequate care

References

 

Doku, P. N. (2016). Reactive attachment disorder in orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV/AIDS: Implications for clinical practice, education and health service delivery. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/reactive-attachment-disorder-in-orphans-and-vulnerable-children-ovcaffected-by-hivaids-implications-for-clinical-practice-educatio-2375-4494-1000278.pdf

Hanson, R. F., & Spratt, E. G. (2000). Reactive attachment disorder: What we know about the disorder and implications for treatment. Child Maltreatment, 5(2), 137-145. Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/pdf/10.1177/1077559500005002005

Zeanah, C. H., Scheeringa, M., Boris, N. W., Heller, S. S., Smyke, A. T., & Trapani, J. (2004). Reactive attachment disorder in maltreated toddlers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(8), 877-888. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/44124741/Reactive_attachment_disorder_in_maltreat20160326-14024-qbem1d.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1540362009&Signature=LQ%2Fc8iTFXiun96QFxUTaC0VQ2ZA%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DReactive_attachment_disorder_in_maltreat.pdf