In the article, Reactive Attachment Disorder: Recognition, Action, and Considerations for School Social Workers, Steven R. Shaw and Doris Pdez educate social workers on this relatively new disorder called Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). RAD is a complex psychiatric disorder that begins in infancy or very early childhood. The cause of RAD is psychological, resulting from not establishing attachment with a caregiver in early years. A child's attachment to primary caregivers is normally created during infancy and throughout the first very few years of life. Failure to form those attachments can result in attachment problems and trust issues, the most severe cases being RAD (Shaw, & Paez, 2007).
Attachment may not be formed for numerous reasons; there is not just one simple cause. Some children may have experienced several caregivers or indifferent caregivers during the first year of life that attachments were never made. Many children with RAD may have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, or may have received inadequate or even neglectful care. Caregivers who are critical, rejecting, or unresponsive for whatever reasons, be it personal problems, drug or alcohol problems, or depression in the adult's life, can have a difficult time developing secure attachments with their children (Shaw, & Paez, 2007).
While the caregiver behavior has much influence over whether an attachment is formed in infancy, attachment is a two-way street; it involves both the caregiver and the child. Children who are hard to calm, irritable, or unresponsive, because of temperament, illness, or a disability like autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can have harder times forming strong attachments. Not only are both parties involved, but outside or indirect forces are also at work. The child and caregiver's environment can affect the attachment bond. Domestic violence, poverty, and/or war can all play into effect of the attachment being formed (Shaw, & Paez, 2007).
