Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a very complicated and misunderstood disorder. Even Though it is considered uncommon it is a completely serious disorder. It occurs when a child has suffered from abuse and neglect. Although a child may be loved and cared for after neglect, Reactive Attachment Disorder affects a child’s mental and emotional health, because of the lack of love, the child finds it hard to emotionally connect with another, and they can develop disruptive or aggressive behavior. The number one cause of RAD is abuse and neglect at an early age. When children are abused, between one-fifth to one-third of those children will abuse their own children (Widom 160). There are many known cases of child abuse, but there are many …show more content…
After David’s adoption David was throwing temper tantrums a dozen times a day. He had not yet learned the right ways to show physical affection (Engeler 138). Nina, another child adopted from Russia, was also throwing temper tantrums or rages, she also became aggressive towards her 4 year old sister. Both children were diagnosed with RAD after their adoptions took place in Russia. “Some adoption agencies are up-front about potential health problems, like RAD, others disregarded the concerns of parents by failing to mention that nearly half the children adopted from Soviet orphanages had birth weights low enough to indicate prematurity, prenatal malnutrition, or alcohol abuse” (Engeler 138). Because of the problems displayed in the orphanages in Russia, David and Nina’s behavior most likely came from the horrific things they had to go through …show more content…
Statistics show that when a child does not have positive nurturing persistently early in life, the child’s brain does not develop completely. “Which leads to neurologic deficiency in which behavior is only regulated by survival and biologic responses, the child will also have little ability to control emotions, form attachments and empathize with others” (Lake 41). In severe cases the child can also become physically diminished. Because of all the mental health problems and the other symptoms a child with RAD can become emotionally unstable. They can become hyperactive, depressed or even suicidal. If the child does not seek help by the time they become an adult their symptoms and way of thinking will not change, and may even become worse. They find it hard to emotionally connect with others, just like when they were a child. Often times when a child with RAD becomes a parent they may be inconsiderate or thoughtless and may be unavailable for their own child (Lake 41). Being unavailable for their child puts that child at greater risk of developing RAD