Disinhibited Attachment Disorder in UK Adopted Children During Middle Childhood: Prevalence, Validity and Possible Developmental Origin

Disinhibited Attachment Disorder in UK Adopted Children During Middle Childhood: Prevalence, Validity and Possible Developmental Origin

Catherine Kay, Jonathan Green, Kishan Sharma · Journal of abnormal child psychology

Researchers compared 60 children adopted from UK care with 26 children referred for behavioural difficulties and 55 lower-risk comparison children. They used parent and teacher reports and researcher observations to assess behaviour then described as disinhibited attachment disorder. It was identified more often in the adopted group and was associated with first entering care between 7 and 24 months. Its association with ADHD did not account for the difference between groups.

Limitations: The adoption sample was small and recruited with assistance from Adoption UK; this is not a population prevalence estimate. Historical terminology and measures require care in interpretation. Maltreatment histories came from parents, rather than children. The UK abstract does not give a regional breakdown. Recruitment relationship: Adoption UK, an adoption-sector advocacy/service organisation, advertised the study and was thanked by the researchers. This does not mean it conducted the research. Readers may consider this recruitment route when interpreting the sample. See web_snapshot_2.json. Evidence-provider note: adoptive parents supplied some or all questionnaire/interview assessments of the adoptee’s outcomes. These proxy reports are not the adoptee’s own account; other evidence sources, where present, are described in the summary.

Research type

Observational comparative study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Children