Reactive attachment disorder is a problem with social interaction that occurs when a child's basic physical and emotional needs are neglected, particularly when the child is an infant.

Reactive attachment disorder is caused by abuse or neglect of an infant's needs for:

• Emotional bonds with a primary or secondary caretaker
• Food
• Physical safety
• Touching

The risk of neglect to the infant or child increases when the:

• Caregiver is mentally retarded
• Caregiver lacks parenting skills
• Parents are isolated
• Parents are teenagers

A frequent change in caregivers (for example, in orphanages or foster care) is another cause of reactive attachment disorder.

Children who are adopted from foreign orphanages are commonly affected, particularly if they were removed from their birth parents during the first weeks of life.

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Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood Symptoms

Review Date: 04/26/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)