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• What is Reactive Attachment Disorder?
• Causes of Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Reactive Attachment Disorder: Symptoms & Diagnosis
• Treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder

Treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder

Evaluating and treating Reactive Attachment Disorder is a challenge. Parents of a young child who displays signs or symptoms of RAD should seek a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation from a qualified professional. If RAD is diagnosed, a specialist should prescribe an individualized treatment plan.

Parents should make sure they understand the risks of any treatment plans and should feel free to seek a second opinion. Beware of so-called "rebirthing techniques," unproven and unconventional therapies that have resulted in serious injury and even death.

RAD kids can be healed, but they must be cooperative. The chance of a successful outcome is increased by close and ongoing collaboration between the child’s family and the treatment team.

Because Reactive Attachment Disorder is so complex and is such a recently described malady, parents of a RAD child will want to do lots of reading and network with a support group. Two web sites that may be useful are RadKid.org and its companion forum.

Long Term Outlook

Due both to the complexity of Reactive Attachment Disorder and the frequent difficulty in persuading patients to cooperate, the prognosis is not good. Unless treated, RAD patients will grow up emotionally stunted.