title: Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood.
abstract: Since its introduction into DSM-III, reactive attachment disorder has stood curiously apart from other diagnoses for two reasons; it remains the only diagnosis designed for infants, and it requires the presence of a specific etiology. This paper describes the pattern of disturbances demonstrated by some children who meet DSM-III-R criteria for reactive attachment disorder. Three suggestions are made: (1) the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic concept may be enhanced by including criteria detailing the developmental problems exhibited by these children; (2) the etiological requirement should be discarded given the difficulties inherent in obtaining complete histories for these children, as well as its inconsistency with ICD-10; and (3) the diagnosis arguably is not a disorder of attachment but rather a syndrome of atypical development.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven CT.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Richters
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Volkmar
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales