Coercive Interventions for Reactive Attachment Disorder

by American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Reactive Attachment Disorder is a complex psychiatric illness that is characterized by problems in forming and maintaining emotional attachments with others. These difficulties are usually present by 5 years of age, and may be detected during the first year of life. These children may appear detached, unresponsive, inhibited or reluctant to engage in age-appropriate social interactions. Alternatively, some children with Reactive Attachment Disorder may be overly and inappropriately social or familiar, even with strangers.