Reactive attachment disorder is a diagnosis in the DSM-5 under the heading of traumatic (trauma) and trigger-related (stressor) disorders. This disorder appears clearly before the age of five. Symptoms must be present for at least twelve months before the diagnosis can be made. Children with reactive attachment disorder have difficulty in establishing emotional bonds with people and experiencing positive emotions. They cannot establish physical intimacy, they react greatly when in contact, they have difficulty in calming down, they often have a crying crisis. They react quickly to caregivers, even during normal interactions, to being angry, upset or afraid. They do not feel safe. They have difficulty in complying with boundaries.
Considering the definition in DSM-5; the child behaves limited, emotionally withdrawn towards adult caregivers. When the child is forced, he/she seeks little relief. When the child is forced, he/she reacts very rarely to comforting.
Although there is no definite cause of reactive attachment disorder, it is thought that physical and emotional neglect and abuse cause the disorder If the child has received inadequate care, his/her needs are not understood and not met, if there has been a frequent change of caregiver,if he/she does not feel safe, or if he/she has been exposed to inconsistent emotional reactions of his/her parents, the likelihood of this disorder is determined to be high. For example, children who stay in the dormitory in the first years of their lives start life without establishing an emotional bond with their parents they have a feeling of unwantedness and abandonment, they have difficulty in trusting people, they are emotionally deficient even if their physical needs are met, and then they have difficulty in establishing a relationship because their caregivers vary a lot. Afterwards, when they are adopted, they start to react even though they are in a good and loving situation, they have difficulty in feeling positive emotions. They have difficulty in establishing a relationship with their new family. They cannot relax and calm down. They continue to maintain their trauma response in the first moments of their lives.
Possibility of reactive attachment disorder is 1%.This is because the symptoms of this diagnosis have not been considered and The reason for this is that the symptoms of this diagnosis have not been paid attention to and are thought to be uncommon. The other reason is that this diagnosis has been accompanied by the diagnoses of hyperactivity disorder,attention deficit and depression.
Reactive attachment disorder is a diagnosis made by psychiatrists. Reactive attachment disorder is confused with autism spectrum disorder. Before the diagnosis is made, two diagnostic criteria are taken into consideration. The criterion that distinguishes reactive attachment disorder from autism is that autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder. Abuse or abuse is not among the causes of autism spectrum disorder.
After the diagnosis is made, the help of a psychologist can be obtained. Game therapy support can be obtained. In the treatment of reactive attachment disorder, the strengthening of family ties in an emotional and healthy direction is prioritized. It is aimed that the caregiving parents show their care and love, spend family time with more popular activities and increase positive experiences. It is emotionally empowered by establishing new experiences with child caregivers. This also affects the child's other relationships and the child begins to develop healthy relationships.
