Adoptive Mothers’ Perceptions of Reactive Attachment Disorder Therapy and its Impact on Family Functioning

Wimmer, Jane S.; Vonk, M. Elizabeth; Reeves, Patricia M.

doi:10.1007/s10615-009-0245-x

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The STAI data supports research by Wimmer, Vonk and Reeves [16], who found that Attachment Therapy provided to adoptive families in Georgia through post-adoptive services provided mothers with hope and a sense of support, reducing feelings of anxiety. Our camp study suggested that just coming to camp reduced anxiety.…”

Section: Who Comes To the Camp And What Are The Key Issues?supporting

confidence: 83%

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Attachment Camps for Improving Behavior in Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Coleman¹,

Coleman²

2017

TOFAMSJ

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Background:Early childhood attachment disruption manifests in disruptive, oppositional behavior and reduced ability for trusting intimate relationships. Chronic emotional disorder negatively affects the entire family system, making treatment difficult. Objective:The goal of the study was to assess a family therapeutic treatment program for children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) conducted through an intensive, one-week camp. Methods:Therapeutic camps included training for caregivers, support for siblings, behavioral interventions for children with RAD, and family therapy exercises. Camps were conducted across North America. Standardized behavioral health rating scales were used to evaluate outcomes. Results:Therapeutic Attachment Camp effectively reduced disruptive behaviors within a one week period and improved family mental health scores. Pretest to post-test scores on the Randolph Attachment Disorder Questionnaire showed significant change in a clinically positive direction. Behaviors specifically associated with attachment and conscience development improved, such as showing remorse or guilt, self-control, telling the truth and accepting parental direction. Child anxiety was observed to be less based on selfrating on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Parent anxiety was significantly reduced based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Statistical effects were moderate to large. Conclusion:Results suggested that a treatment program addressing the needs of the entire family and combining attachment exercises with psychoeducation and structured parenting practice can be effective within a short time frame. Findings have implications for community and family mental health, and for developing culturally relevant treatments that integrate disciplines. untreated has deleterious behavioral and psychiatric consequences [1]. Associated behaviors commonly include aggression, hoarding food, lying, stealing and emotional dysregulation while psychiatric concerns include elevated rates of oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, attention deficits and anxiety. More severe periods of neglect are associated with changes in brain development and neural activation [2]. Maladaptive attachment includes nonattachment, disordered attachment and attachment disruption, with nonattachment being the most severe. All forms of damaged attachment imply lack of security or trust in adult caregivers, and all are associated with increased presence of mental health disorders [3].Treatment approaches nearly all emphasize family or parent-child dyadic components, since the primary issue is security and behavior within a relationship context [4,5]. Trust based relationship interventions have been developed to enhance family functioning and to reduce the risk of disrupted adoptions, and show promise for promoting stronger attachment and greater resiliency in relationships [6]. The complex trauma of combined abuse, neglect and loss disrupts attachment development. Best practices for treatment require attachment figures (caregivers...

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Section: Who Comes To the Camp And What Are The Key Issues?supporting

confidence: 83%

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Attachment Camps for Improving Behavior in Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Coleman¹,

Coleman²

2017

TOFAMSJ

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“…Sustained social withdrawal is expected, almost by definition, to be frequently observed in institutions for babies and toddlers, where significant environmental deprivation and insufficient stimulation are common (Kreppner et al., ; van IJzendoorn et al., ). For some institutionalized infants, social withdrawal may be a coping strategy and may be associated with autistic‐like behaviors observed among these children (Castle et al., ) as well as reactive attachment disorder (Zeanah et al., ), which is frequently diagnosed in adopted children (Wimmer, Vonk, & Reeves, ). In some of the cases, sustained withdrawal may be a symptom of reactive attachment disorder.…”

Section: Sustained Social Withdrawal Among Adopted Infantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of Change in Postinstitutionalized Infants’ Sustained Social Withdrawal Behavior Following Adoption

Dollberg

Keren

2013

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Infants adopted from institutions experience inadequate care prior to adoption and are therefore expected to show elevated sustained social withdrawal behavior shortly after being adopted. Social withdrawal is expected to decrease as they adapt to their new families. Sustained social withdrawal was assessed 1 month' postadoption (Time 1) and again 6 months later (Time 2) via the Baby Alarm Distress procedure (A. Guedeney & J. Fermanian, 2001). At Time 1, 22.5% of the infants scored within the clinical range for social withdrawal whereas a significant decrease in social withdrawal was indicated at Time 2, with none of the infants scoring above the cutoff score. As predicted, maternal depressive symptoms and insecure attachment were associated with a smaller decrease in infants' social withdrawal. High maternal expectations for efficacy were associated with a smaller decrease in social withdrawal. Infants' temperament, gender, age at adoption, developmental level, and maternal marital status were unrelated to the level of change in social withdrawal. Participating in a preventive intervention was not associated with greater change in social withdrawal. These results highlight the beneficial effect of adoption and the role of maternal depression and attachment security in decreasing sustained social withdrawal among internationally adopted infants.

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“…Welcoming an adoptive child into the family is very different than giving birth to a child as the majority of international adoptions occur after infancy, and the critical milestone of developing attachment to a caregiver may have been stalled by the early deprivation. Many authors note that by the time the adoption is finalized, adoptive parents are eager to claim their child, wanting to bond with him or her immediately (Shapiro et al, 2001;Welsh et al, 2007;Wimmer et al, 2010). However, depending on the child's early experiences with caregivers, he or she may actively push the adoptive family away, withdraw from them, or become aggressive toward them (Shapiro et al, 2001).…”

Section: The Task Of Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, depending on the child's early experiences with caregivers, he or she may actively push the adoptive family away, withdraw from them, or become aggressive toward them (Shapiro et al, 2001). Thus, there may be a mismatch between the adoptive parents' readiness to attach and the child's inability or unwillingness to do so (Shapiro et al, 2001;Wimmer, Vonk, & Reeves, 2010). Research has shown that there is a significant relationship between the child's ability to attach and the adoption outcome, with the adoptee's capacity for attachments being a strong protective factor for adoptive families (Adoption Institute, 2010).…”

Section: The Task Of Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attachment difficulties are associated not only with the ability to bond with others, but also with more severe psychopathology in adulthood. Attachment disorders have been found to be highly comorbid with externalizing behaviors and aggression (Welsh et al, 2007;Wimmer et al, 2010). Furthermore, both attachment difficulties and behavioral problems are linked to higher parental stress and dissatisfaction with adoption (Welsh et al, 2007).…”

Section: The Task Of Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of Parents of Children Adopted from Overseas: A Thematic Analysis of Narratives

Amarando¹

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Parents from the United States adopt more children from overseas than parents from any other country. There are numerous factors that play a role in the decision to adopt internationally, and most families remain highly satisfied with the adoption outcome (Adoption Institute, 2010). However, families with internationally adopted children face numerous challenges during their adoption journey, and generally report a higher utilization of professional services than biological families (Adoption Institute, 2010). In this study I utilized a qualitative research design to examine experiences of parents who adopted children from other countries. Thematic analysis of family narratives was employed to examine the stories of parents and identify their current needs. It was found that themes of loss, anticipation, and emotion-focused coping prevail in the adoptive families' narratives. Clinical implications, strengths and limitations, and recommendations for mental health professionals who work with adoptive families are discussed.

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Adoptive Mothers’ Perceptions of Reactive Attachment Disorder Therapy and its Impact on Family Functioning

Cited by 14 publications

References 24 publications

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Attachment Camps for Improving Behavior in Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Attachment Camps for Improving Behavior in Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Correlates of Change in Postinstitutionalized Infants’ Sustained Social Withdrawal Behavior Following Adoption

Experiences of Parents of Children Adopted from Overseas: A Thematic Analysis of Narratives

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