Reactive attachment disorder in looked-after children

• Published in: Emotional and behavioural difficulties Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 273 - 279
• Main Authors: Millward, R., Kennedy, E., Towlson, K., Minnis, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Routledge 01.12.2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Abuse; Attachment Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Abuse; Child Neglect; Children; Control Groups; Depression (Psychology); Emotional Problems; Evaluation Criteria; Foreign Countries; Foster Care; Hyperactivity; Interpersonal Relationship; Looked-after children; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Mental health problems; Neglect; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Reactive Attachment Disorder; Residential Care; Scotland; Victimology; United Kingdom (Scotland); United Kingdom; Europe; Human; Preschool age; Social environment; Affect affectivity; Mental health; Clinical form; Foster care placement; Victimology; Affective disorder; Symptomatology; Child abuse; School age; Affective attachment; Adolescent; Mental disorder; Diagnosis; Typology; Child; Public health
• ISSN: 1363-2752; 1741-2692
• DOI: 10.1080/13632750601022212

The great majority of children living in foster or residential care have been abused and neglected. Mental health problems are common and the nature of these problems may be rooted in early attachment relationships. The carers of 82 children in care in Scotland and 125 children from local schools completed questionnaires on mental health problems including Reactive Attachment Disorder. More than half (53%) of the children in care fulfilled criteria for mental health problems compared with 13% of the control group, and children living in care scored significantly higher for conduct problems, emotional problems (anxiety and depression), hyperactivity, problems with peer relations and Reactive Attachment Disorder. This has important implications for service development for this vulnerable group of children.