About Reactive Attachment Disorder
Key Highlights
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Focuses on building secure, trusting relationships between child and caregiver.Addresses the root cause of emotional and behavioral issues stemming from early trauma.Empowers caregivers with specific, responsive parenting strategies.Non-invasive and does not involve medication as a primary treatment.Can significantly improve a child's long-term social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) or Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED).
- History of severe neglect, abuse, or multiple changes in primary caregivers before age 5.
- Persistent emotional withdrawal from caregivers or lack of seeking comfort when distressed.
- Indiscriminate, overly familiar behavior with unfamiliar adults (in disinhibited type).
- Co-occurring behavioral problems like aggression, defiance, or extreme control issues.
- Failure to thrive emotionally or socially despite a safe and stable current environment.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive diagnostic assessment by the psychologist to confirm RAD/DSED and rule out other conditions.
- Gathering a detailed history of the child's early care, placements, and traumas.
- Pre-treatment meetings with caregivers to set realistic goals and explain the therapeutic process.
- Creating a stable, predictable, and safe home environment to support therapy.
- Ensuring caregiver commitment, as their participation is critical to success.
Risks & possible complications
- Initial increase in difficult behaviors as the child's defensive patterns are challenged.
- Emotional distress for the child and caregiver during the processing of traumatic memories.
- Risk of therapeutic rupture if trust-building is inconsistent.
- Slow progress, requiring significant time, patience, and financial commitment.
- Potential for caregiver burnout due to the intensive nature of the therapy.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Recovery is a long-term process measured in months to years, not days.
- Involves regular, ongoing therapy sessions (often weekly) with the psychologist.
- Daily implementation of therapeutic parenting techniques at home is essential.
- Progress is monitored through gradual improvements in trust, affection, and regulated behavior.
- Follow-up assessments are conducted to adjust the treatment plan as needed.
- Support groups for caregivers can be a valuable part of the ongoing recovery process.
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Typical hospital stay: 0 days (outpatient therapy)
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Expected recovery time: Ongoing process (6 months to several years)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering reactive attachment disorder in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with psychology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform reactive attachment disorder. MediFyr helps you compare psychologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for reactive attachment disorder compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 800 – 2.5 Thousand | 0 days (outpatient therapy) | ~ Ongoing process (6 months to several years) | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 2.8 Thousand – 8.75 Thousand | 0 days (outpatient therapy) | ~ Ongoing process (6 months to several years) | Know More |
Angel Ali is a 7-year-old boy...
Angel Ali is a 7-year-old boy who was adopted from an orphanage at age 4 after experiencing severe neglect in his early years. His adoptive parents, Maria and David, are loving but struggling. Angel shows no preference for them over strangers, rarely seeks comfort when hurt, and can be superficially charming with new people while being cold and controlling at home. He has explosive tantrums over minor issues and hoards food in his room. Their pediatrician, concerned about the profound emotional disconnect, referred them to Dr. Evans, a child psychologist specializing in trauma. Dr. Evans diagnosed Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and recommended a course of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Treatment involved weekly sessions where Dr. Evans coached Maria and David in creating a safe, nurturing, and predictable environment, using PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) to connect with Angel during his dysregulation. It was emotionally grueling; Angel would often reject their attempts, and his parents felt profound grief and inadequacy. After 18 months of consistent therapy and a radical shift in parenting approach, Angel began to make slow but real progress. He now occasionally seeks a hug from Maria when scared, his tantrums are less severe and more manageable, and he has started to call them 'Mom' and 'Dad.' The emotional journey was from despair and confusion to cautious hope. The family is not 'fixed,' but they are securely attached and building trust day by day.
Psychologists for Reactive Attachment Disorder
Explore experienced psychologists who regularly perform reactive attachment disorder and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 16 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 10 Years Experience
- Psychologist
- 30 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 14 Years Experience
- Psychologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Years Experience
- Psychologist