Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Attachment Issues?Signs in ChildrenSigns in AdultsDiagnosisCausesTypesTreatmentsCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Are Attachment Issues?

Signs in Children

Signs in Adults

Diagnosis

Causes

Types

Treatments

Coping

Close

An attachment disorder is a condition that affects mood or behavior and makes it difficult for people to form and maintain relationships with others. These conditions usually begin in early childhood, but attachment issues may also persist into adulthood.

Attachment issues are not an official diagnosis, but people use the term to refer to aninsecure attachment stylein adults. Adults with insecure attachment styles may express avoidance or ambivalence in relationships or behave in disorganized or inconsistent ways.

Most infantsdevelop secure emotional attachmentsto their caregivers at an early age. They show healthy anxiety when their caregiver is absent, and they show relief when they’re reunited. Some infants develop attachment disorders because their caregivers do not meet their needs. These babies are unable to bond with their caregivers, and they struggle to develop any type of emotional attachment.

Secure vs. Insecure Attachments

There are two primaryattachment stylesthat can result from early childhood experiences with parents and caregivers: secure and insecure attachments.

Secure Attachments

Children who are securely attached tend to form better relationships with others and solve problems more readily. They are willing to try new things and explore independently and have less extreme responses to stress.

Insecure Attachments

Infants who experience negative or unpredictable responses from a caregiver may develop an insecure attachment style. They may see adults as unreliable and they may not trust them easily. Children with insecure attachments may avoid people, exaggerate distress, and show anger, fear, and anxiety. They may refuse to engage with others.

Attachment disorders are treatable, but early intervention is important. Without treatment, children with attachment disorders may experience ongoing issues throughout the course of their lives.

How to Be Less Insecure

Signs of Attachment Issues

Signs that a child may have an attachment disorder include:

Attachment disorders that emerge in childhood can continue to affect a person’s relationships in adulthood. However, the exact attachment styles people experience in childhood do not always directly correlate to attachment patterns in adulthood.

What Are Signs of Attachment Issues in Adults?Signs of attachment issues in adults can include problems forming emotional bonds with others, difficulties with boundaries, or risky behaviors. While more research is needed, adults with attachment issues may struggle to form romantic relationships. They may struggle to trust others or express a great deal of anxiety in their relationships. They may need constant reassurance or push their partners away to avoid getting too attached.

What Are Signs of Attachment Issues in Adults?

Signs of attachment issues in adults can include problems forming emotional bonds with others, difficulties with boundaries, or risky behaviors. While more research is needed, adults with attachment issues may struggle to form romantic relationships. They may struggle to trust others or express a great deal of anxiety in their relationships. They may need constant reassurance or push their partners away to avoid getting too attached.

Diagnosing Attachment Disorder

A pediatrician or psychologist will conduct an examination to diagnose an attachment disorder in children. This evaluation may include:

A doctor may also conduct a physical exam, run lab tests, and use other psychiatric assessments to rule out any medical or mental health conditions contributing to symptoms.

A doctor or psychiatrist will utilize the diagnostic criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) to determine if a child has an attachment disorder.

The DSM-5-TR does not recognize attachment disorders in adults. However, if you believe that attachment issues are affecting your ability to form healthy relationships or if you are experiencing other mental health symptoms, talk to your doctor or mental health professional. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and recommend treatment options that can help.

Causes of Attachment Issues

Attachment issues can arise for a number of reasons, but they are typically rooted in childhood experiences. Inconsistent or neglectful caregivers, for example, may play a part in attachment disorders in childhood as well as attachment issues in adulthood.

Mindful MomentNeed a breather? Take this free7-minute meditation focused on releasing attachment—or choose from ourguided meditation libraryto find another one that will help you feel your best.

Mindful Moment

Need a breather? Take this free7-minute meditation focused on releasing attachment—or choose from ourguided meditation libraryto find another one that will help you feel your best.

Some children develop attachment disorders while others living in the same environment don’t. But researchers agree there is a link between attachment disorders and significant neglect or deprivation, repeated changes in primary caretakers, or being reared in institutional settings.

Some other possible risk factors for attachment disorders include:

Most children with attachment disorders have experienced serious neglect, and often they have experienced trauma or frequent changes in caregivers.

Attachment disorders are fairly rare in the general population. Children in foster care or children who have been institutionalized are at the greatest risk.Populations most at risk include:

Children with attachment disorders are likely to struggle academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. They are at a higher risk of developing legal issues during adolescence as well. Children with attachment disorders tend to have lower IQs, and they are at a higher risk of having language problems.

They’re also more likely to have psychiatric disorders. A 2013 study that examined children with attachment disorders found that:

Overall, 85% of the children had another psychiatric condition in addition to having an attachment disorder.

Children don’t grow out of attachment disorders on their own. Their symptoms may shift as they grow older, but if left untreated, they are likely to continue to have ongoing problems into adulthood, including difficulty regulating their emotions.

Attachment disorders may also be linked to psychopathic traits. A 2018 study found that children with attachment disorders were more likely to exhibit callous and unemotional traits. While there is evidence the two are linked, there’s no proof that attachment disorders cause an individual to developantisocial personality disorder.

What to Know About Comorbidity

Types of Attachment Disorders

TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disordersrecognizes two distinct attachment disorders:disinhibited social engagement disorderandreactive attachment disorder. These conditions are often recognized around a child’s first birthday. The earliest warning signs often include failure to thrive or disinterest in interacting.

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

A classic sign of disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) is overfriendliness with strangers. A child may seek comfort from a stranger, sit on a stranger’s lap, and not exhibit any distress when a caregiver isn’t present.

Children with DSED also show little interest or desire to check in with trusted adults before leaving a safe place and entering a situation that is strange or even threatening. Kids with this condition show little preference for trusted adults over strangers and may seek out affection from people they do not know.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive attachment disorder is a disorder of infancy or early childhood that involves a failure to seek comfort from a caregiver. A child with reactive attachment may resist physical comfort from a caregiver, avoid eye contact, and be hypervigilant.

Most children with reactive attachment disorder display a variety of behaviors. Such behaviors can include irritability, withdrawal, lack of comfort-seeking, not interacting with other children, and avoiding physical touch.

Treatment for Attachment Issues

The most important aspect of helping a child develop a secure attachment involves a stable, healthy environment. A child who continues to move from foster home to foster home or one who resides in an orphanage isn’t likely to develop a healthy bond with a caregiver.

Even when a child with an attachment disorder is placed in a loving home with a consistent caregiver, the symptoms won’t immediately resolve. They tend to push their caregivers away, and their behavior problems often repel those around them. They usually require intensive ongoing treatment.

Treatment typically involves:

Mental health treatment that involves caregivers can help children learn to develop more secure attachments. Comorbid conditions should also be treated.

Coping With an Attachment Disorder

If you are an adult struggling with attachment issues, remind yourself that it takes time to develop new patterns and behaviors. Psychotherapy can help you explore some of these issues in greater depth.

If you notice signs that your child may have an attachment disorder, talk to your child’s doctor about an evaluation, diagnosis, or referral to a child mental health specialist. The earlier the intervention, the more likely a child is to experience a good outcome.

Another step that you can take to help a child with an attachment problem includes taking a parenting class. Children with attachment issues require special attention. Learning how to respond appropriately can help your child form a healthier, more secure bond with caregivers.

Understanding Emotional Attachment and Whether Yours Is Healthy

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).Attachment disorders.Pritchett R, Pritchett J, Marshall E, Davidson C, Minnis H.Reactive attachment disorder in the general population: A hidden ESSENCE disorder.ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:818157. doi:10.1155/2013/818157Humphreys KL, Nelson CA, Fox NA, Zeanah CH.Signs of reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder at age 12 years: Effects of institutional care history and high-quality foster care.Dev Psychopathol. 2017;29(2):675-684. doi:10.1017/S0954579417000256Fuchshuber J, Hiebler-Ragger M, Kresse A, Kapfhammer HP, Unterrainer HF.The influence of attachment styles and personality organization on emotional functioning after childhood trauma.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:643. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00643van der Zouwen M, Hoeve M, Hendriks AM, Asscher JJ, Stams GJJM.The association between attachment and psychopathic traits.Aggress Violent Behav. 2018;43:45-55. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2018.09.002Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Hong M, Moon DS, Chang H, et al.Incidence and comorbidity of reactive attachment disorder: based on National Health Insurance Claims Data, 2010–2012 in Korea.Psychiatry Investig. 2018;15(2):118-123. doi:10.30773/pi.2017.11.01Mirza K, Mwimba G, Pritchett R, Davidson C.Association between reactive attachment disorder/disinhibited social engagement disorder and emerging personality disorder: A feasibility study.ScientificWorldJournal. 2016;2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/5730104Zeanah CH, Gleason MM.Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood—clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):207-22. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12347

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).Attachment disorders.Pritchett R, Pritchett J, Marshall E, Davidson C, Minnis H.Reactive attachment disorder in the general population: A hidden ESSENCE disorder.ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:818157. doi:10.1155/2013/818157Humphreys KL, Nelson CA, Fox NA, Zeanah CH.Signs of reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder at age 12 years: Effects of institutional care history and high-quality foster care.Dev Psychopathol. 2017;29(2):675-684. doi:10.1017/S0954579417000256Fuchshuber J, Hiebler-Ragger M, Kresse A, Kapfhammer HP, Unterrainer HF.The influence of attachment styles and personality organization on emotional functioning after childhood trauma.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:643. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00643van der Zouwen M, Hoeve M, Hendriks AM, Asscher JJ, Stams GJJM.The association between attachment and psychopathic traits.Aggress Violent Behav. 2018;43:45-55. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2018.09.002Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Hong M, Moon DS, Chang H, et al.Incidence and comorbidity of reactive attachment disorder: based on National Health Insurance Claims Data, 2010–2012 in Korea.Psychiatry Investig. 2018;15(2):118-123. doi:10.30773/pi.2017.11.01Mirza K, Mwimba G, Pritchett R, Davidson C.Association between reactive attachment disorder/disinhibited social engagement disorder and emerging personality disorder: A feasibility study.ScientificWorldJournal. 2016;2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/5730104Zeanah CH, Gleason MM.Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood—clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):207-22. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12347

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).Attachment disorders.Pritchett R, Pritchett J, Marshall E, Davidson C, Minnis H.Reactive attachment disorder in the general population: A hidden ESSENCE disorder.ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:818157. doi:10.1155/2013/818157Humphreys KL, Nelson CA, Fox NA, Zeanah CH.Signs of reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder at age 12 years: Effects of institutional care history and high-quality foster care.Dev Psychopathol. 2017;29(2):675-684. doi:10.1017/S0954579417000256Fuchshuber J, Hiebler-Ragger M, Kresse A, Kapfhammer HP, Unterrainer HF.The influence of attachment styles and personality organization on emotional functioning after childhood trauma.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:643. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00643van der Zouwen M, Hoeve M, Hendriks AM, Asscher JJ, Stams GJJM.The association between attachment and psychopathic traits.Aggress Violent Behav. 2018;43:45-55. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2018.09.002

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).Attachment disorders.

Pritchett R, Pritchett J, Marshall E, Davidson C, Minnis H.Reactive attachment disorder in the general population: A hidden ESSENCE disorder.ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:818157. doi:10.1155/2013/818157

Humphreys KL, Nelson CA, Fox NA, Zeanah CH.Signs of reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder at age 12 years: Effects of institutional care history and high-quality foster care.Dev Psychopathol. 2017;29(2):675-684. doi:10.1017/S0954579417000256

Fuchshuber J, Hiebler-Ragger M, Kresse A, Kapfhammer HP, Unterrainer HF.The influence of attachment styles and personality organization on emotional functioning after childhood trauma.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:643. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00643

van der Zouwen M, Hoeve M, Hendriks AM, Asscher JJ, Stams GJJM.The association between attachment and psychopathic traits.Aggress Violent Behav. 2018;43:45-55. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2018.09.002

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Hong M, Moon DS, Chang H, et al.Incidence and comorbidity of reactive attachment disorder: based on National Health Insurance Claims Data, 2010–2012 in Korea.Psychiatry Investig. 2018;15(2):118-123. doi:10.30773/pi.2017.11.01Mirza K, Mwimba G, Pritchett R, Davidson C.Association between reactive attachment disorder/disinhibited social engagement disorder and emerging personality disorder: A feasibility study.ScientificWorldJournal. 2016;2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/5730104Zeanah CH, Gleason MM.Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood—clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):207-22. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12347

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.

Hong M, Moon DS, Chang H, et al.Incidence and comorbidity of reactive attachment disorder: based on National Health Insurance Claims Data, 2010–2012 in Korea.Psychiatry Investig. 2018;15(2):118-123. doi:10.30773/pi.2017.11.01

Mirza K, Mwimba G, Pritchett R, Davidson C.Association between reactive attachment disorder/disinhibited social engagement disorder and emerging personality disorder: A feasibility study.ScientificWorldJournal. 2016;2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/5730104

Zeanah CH, Gleason MM.Annual research review: Attachment disorders in early childhood—clinical presentation, causes, correlates, and treatment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):207-22. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12347

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?