Reactive attachment disorder in the classroom

Students with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) often display significant intrusive behaviors and need specific behavioral, social-emotional, and academic supports. Given the background of trauma consistent with a RAD diagnosis, it is imperative that school personnel understand the social-emotional behavioral supports needed to help children with a RAD diagnosis be successful. There is a lack of research to support behavioral interventions for RAD in the classroom, but the clinical/therapeutic literature on supporting children with RAD at home and in the community can be extended to the classroom. This article introduces background for RAD and suggests ways to support children with RAD by exploring common symptomology for children with RAD, including the concepts of attachment and disruption, common symptoms and behaviors, and best practice interventions.