attachment disorder

American  

noun

Psychology.

1. an emotional and behavioral disorder arising from a failure to form a strong bond with one’s primary caregiver in early childhood and affecting one’s social relationships in later childhood and adulthood.

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Etymology

Origin of attachment disorder

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

attachment disorder

Lenhardt’s daughter, who has autism, intellectual disability and a severe attachment disorder, is often violent, and has been a frequent visitor to Seattle Children’s over the past few months.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2023

Whatever it is — Berlin gently suggested it’s an attachment disorder, because “how we learn to self-soothe comes out of our attachments” — I know it will take longer than a single January to locate.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 1, 2022

“We have fostered children with various issues, including fetal alcohol syndrome, tracheomalacia, reactive attachment disorder, spina bifida, limb difference, prematurity, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and various developmental delays.”

From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2020

Alongside sensory processing issues, hypermobility, multiple allergies, a weakened immune system, digestive and bowel problems, anxiety and attachment disorder, Charlie is on the autism pathway and doctors are looking into a possible connective tissue condition.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2019

According to the Mayo Clinic, reactive attachment disorder occurs when a child’s basic needs for nurturing, comfort and affection are not met, and the child fails to establish any stable, loving attachments with a caregiver.

From Washington Times ● May 30, 2016