What causes attachment disorders?

The ability to attach or bond begins in the womb. The developing fetus is affected by the birthmother's emotional condition, physical health, substance use and other factors. From the time of conception through approximately the third year of life the child needs to attach in order to develop physical and emotional health. This early attachment is the foundation for the child's ability to feel empathy, compassion, trust and love.

Children with attachment disorders and issues have experienced a break in the bonding cycle. This break can be the result of:

• genetic predisposition
• maternal ambivalence toward the pregnancy
• traumatic prenatal experience
• in-utero exposure to alcohol and/or drugs
• birth trauma
• neglect
• abuse
• abandonment
• separation from birth parents
• inconsistent or inadequate day care
• divorce
• multiple moves and/or placements
• institutionalization (e.g. children adopted from orphanages)
• undiagnosed or untreated painful illness (e.g. untreated ear infections)
• medical conditions which prohibit adequate touch (e.g. child who is in an incubator or body cast)