The socio-behavioral development of children with symptoms of attachment disorder: An observational study of teacher sensitivity in special education

Spilt, Jantine L.; Vervoort, Eleonora; Koenen, Anne-Katrien; Bosmans, Guy; Verschueren, Karine

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.05.014

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Nevertheless, an increasing number of publications about RAD in middle childhood and adolescence have appeared recently (Humphreys, Nelson, Fox, & Zeanah, 2017;Pritchett, Rochat, Tomlinson, & Minnis, 2013;Raaska et al, 2012;Split, Vervoort, Koenen, Bosmans, & Verschueren, 2016;Vervoort, De Schipper, Bosmans, & Verschueren, 2013). Though there is concern about overdiagnosis of the disorder in clinical settings, especially in older children (Chaffin et al, 2006;Woolgar & Scott, 2013;Zeanah et al, 2016), these more recent empirical studies of RAD have used multiple standardized methods, including parent report questionnaires, structured psychiatric interviews, and behavioral observations to identify RAD.…”

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confidence: 99%

A prospective longitudinal study of Reactive Attachment Disorder following early institutional care: considering variable- and person-centered approaches

Guyon‐Harris

Humphreys

Degnan

et al. 2018

Attachment & Human Development

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Although the study of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) in early childhood has received considerable attention, there is emerging interest in RAD that presents in school age children and adolescents. We examined the course of RAD signs from early childhood to early adolescence using both variable-centered (linear mixed modeling) and person-centered (growth mixture modeling) approaches. One-hundred twenty-four children with a history of institutional care from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, a randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care, as well as 69 community comparison children were included in the study. While foster care was associated with steep reductions in RAD signs across development, person-centered approaches indicated that later age of placement into families and greater percent time in institutional care were each associated with prolonged elevated RAD signs. Findings suggest the course of RAD is variable but substantially influenced by early experiences.

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confidence: 99%

A prospective longitudinal study of Reactive Attachment Disorder following early institutional care: considering variable- and person-centered approaches

Guyon‐Harris

Humphreys

Degnan

et al. 2018

Attachment & Human Development

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“…Individual factors included male gender (Lehmann et al, 2016); reduced gray matter volume (Fujisawa et al, 2018;Shimada et al, 2015;Smyke et al, 2012); lower cognitive ability (Hong et al, 2018;Takiguchi et al, 2015); dopaminergic dysfunction (Gleason et al, 2011;Tomoda, 2016); and genetic factors, particularly for males (Zeanah et al, 2004). RAD was associated with depressive symptoms (Gleason et al, 2011); social and emotional difficulties (Gleason et al, 2011;Hong et al, 2018;Humphreys et al, 2017;Mayes et al, 2017;Moran et al, 2017;Spangler et al, 2019); functional impairment (Gleason et al, 2011;Hong et al, 2018;Lehmann et al, 2016;McGoron et al, 2012); behavioral and conduct problems (Elovainio et al, 2015;Hong et al, 2018;Lehmann et al, 2016;Mayes et al, 2017;Moran et al, 2017;Spilt et al, 2016); hyperactivity (Elovainio et al, 2015;Humphreys et al, 2017;H. Minnis et al, 2007); internalizing symptoms (Elovainio et al, 2015;McGoron et al, 2012;Scheper et al, 2016;Shimada et al, 2015;P.…”

Section: Review Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can reactive attachment disorder persist in nurturing placements? A systematic review and clinical case series

Nelson

Chadwick

Bruce

et al. 2020

Developmental Child Welfare

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Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), is characterized by failure to seek and accept comfort in maltreated children. This lack of activation of the attachment system has profound developmental disadvantages yet, in early childhood, usually resolves quickly after placement in nurturing care. Persistence of RAD into middle childhood has been demonstrated in children reared in Romanian Institutions but, in family-reared children older children, there is controversy regarding whether RAD-like behaviors are genuinely attachment-related and stable from early childhood or are, in fact, related to PTSD. We conducted two pieces of research to investigate this: 1. a systematic review to examine persistence/resolution of RAD and 2. a case series of three boys whose RAD symptoms persisted despite living in placements judged by both social and child health services to be of good quality. Our systematic review revealed a paucity of longitudinal data. Except in atypical institutionalized samples, RAD had not been evidenced beyond pre-school. All three boys in the case series met DSM 5 criteria for RAD in late childhood/early adolescence and had stable RAD symptoms since before age 5. Qualitative interviews with their families revealed common themes of family strain, frustration and resentment at the lack of support from services. This paper provides the first opportunity to generate testable hypotheses about environmental circumstances and coexisting symptomatology that may influence RAD trajectories. Persistence of RAD has profoundly negative implications for children and their families. Recognition of RAD symptoms is challenging but crucial in order to improve care of these children and their families.

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“…Children who develop reactive attachment disorder (RAD) symptoms show inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior towards adult caregivers, and/or persistent social or emotional disturbances, reflected in minimal social and emotional responsiveness, limited positive affect or episodes of unexplained arousal [ 1 ] . As part of this symptomatology, these children typically show prosocial behavior problems [ 2 , 3 ]. Their inability to relate prosocially to and establish deep bonds with peers and adult caregivers adds significantly to the distress of these children and their environment [ 4 , 5 ] and puts these children at risk of not having the appropriate resources to receive help or support when needed [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior in middle childhood: the role of Secure Base Script knowledge

Cuyvers

Vervoort²,

Bosmans

2020

BMC Psychiatry

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Background Children with attachment disorder show prosocial behavior problems. Children with a reactive attachment disorder show inhibited and emotionally withdrawn behavior. Consequently, these children typically display prosocial behavior problems. However, the underlying mechanism between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems is still unclear and findings in literature are mixed. Methods The current study investigated the role of children’s attachment representations in this association. Attachment representations reflect knowledge about a cognitive script regarding the attachment figure as a source for support (Secure Base Script). We tested whether secure base script knowledge 1) mediates or 2) moderates the link between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems in 83 children (6–11 years; 83.1% boys) recruited from special education schools for children with behavioral problems. Children completed a pictorial Secure Base Script Test. Their reactive attachment disorder symptoms were assessed during an interview with the primary caregivers. Primary caregivers and teachers filled out a prosocial behavior questionnaire about the child. Results Results did not support the mediation hypothesis, but evidence for the moderation hypothesis was found. Secure base script knowledge attenuated the negative association between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior. Conclusions These findings contribute to the discussion about the link between attachment representations and attachment disorders.

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The socio-behavioral development of children with symptoms of attachment disorder: An observational study of teacher sensitivity in special education

Cited by 15 publications

References 58 publications

A prospective longitudinal study of Reactive Attachment Disorder following early institutional care: considering variable- and person-centered approaches

A prospective longitudinal study of Reactive Attachment Disorder following early institutional care: considering variable- and person-centered approaches

Can reactive attachment disorder persist in nurturing placements? A systematic review and clinical case series

Reactive attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior in middle childhood: the role of Secure Base Script knowledge

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