Nursery World - Positive relationships: Attachment, part 4: After the trauma

Children who have suffered a lack of care and nurture at a young age can benefit from special attention in an early years setting, says Anne O'Connor.

Q: Is there a definition of attachment disorder?

This is a very complex area and there continues to be a lot of debate on the subject here and in the US. The terms 'reactive attachment disorder' (RAD) or 'attachment disorder' are still sometimes used diagnostically, but some specialists are now recommending use of the term 'severe attachment difficulties' to describe children who present with extreme behaviours related to their early experiences. The world-renowned trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk argues that RAD should be renamed 'developmental trauma disorder', linking it with his work on post-traumatic stress disorder.

Q: How does this link with attachment theory?

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