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Reactive Attachment Case Study

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Treatment for reactive attachment disorder is problematic and challenging for patients and families. It can be grueling for parents and therapist to continue to provide proper structure and a nurturing environment. A stable environment is imminent to bring a child out of this dark world. The child needs structure, stability, and unlimited supply of love to recover from or even manage the disorder.
The American Journal of Family Therapy provides a case study of a four year old boy named Tom living in his sixth foster home for the past ten months, with the diagnoses of RAD. Tom was born to a mother addicted to crack cocaine, used during pregnancy, incarcerated ending in the loss of custody of Tom. A three-stage treatment plan has been designed to fit the needs of Tom and his family in effort to provide bonding with foster parents along with trying to relieve the frustrating day to day living for Tom and his caregivers. All other treatments previously have failed and parents are discouraged, tired, and it is tearing the family apart. Five other siblings are in the household as well. …show more content…
Tom lacked the ability to respond to any human connection, he was able to express verbal communication, but made odd noises, such as screeching when any type of connection was trying to be made. It was uncomfortable for him. Tom’s way of dealing with the discomfort was to screech and make others uncomfortable just as he was; it was his own coping mechanism. Tom also would eat garbage, urinate on carpets, break toys, physical violent behavior, hurt animals, was hurtful to siblings, avoid eye contact and showed no emotions when hurt. A severe case as most RAD patients, but foster mother was determined to help

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