Reactive attachment disorder of childhood
Coding guidance (WHO 2019)
Starts in the first five years of life and is characterized by persistent abnormalities in the child's pattern of social relationships that are associated with emotional disturbance and are reactive to changes in environmental circumstances (e.g. fearfulness and hypervigilance, poor social interaction with peers, aggression towards self and others, misery, and growth failure in some cases). The syndrome probably occurs as a direct result of severe parental neglect, abuse, or serious mishandling. Use additional code, if desired, to identify any associated failure to thrive or growth retardation. Excl.: Asperger syndrome (F84.5) disinhibited attachment disorder of childhood (F94.2) maltreatment syndromes (T74.-) normal variation in pattern of selective attachment sexual or physical abuse in childhood, resulting in psychosocial problems (Z61.4-Z61.6)