tessaturtle
New Member
So, many of you in previous posts of mine have mentioned the same thing I suspected, that difficult child was displaying many characteristics of a kid with attachment disorder. He just had his last appointment with his current psychologist today. difficult child moves back to the Community Mental Health system that treated him for 8 years with no success next week. So his current/ex psychiatric has never shared with us anything from his treatment - saying it is confidential. However today, gave us a copy of his memo to the psychiatric hospital (where difficult child recently spent a week) which included his diagnosis for difficult child. His diagnosis is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) ("a mixed form not currently found in the DSM), BiPolar not otherwise specified, and Conduct Disorder juvenile onset. Prior to starting with this psychiatrist (after spending 8 yrs in the community system and phosps) his diagnosis was Bipolar, ODD, ADHD rule out. So not much difference, but clearly more significant. The Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) diagnosis does confirm my suspicions based on experience that he might have some type of attachment disorder - I am not convinced that it is full blown Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) however - according to one of the professionals I work with in the field, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is on the extreme end of the 'spectrum' of attachment issues; kids can have injuries, so to speak, to their attachment, that can be less severe but still problematic.
Anyway, it creates an interesting situation. In his transition back to a new therapist at the Community Mental Health Center, will they pay attention to his current diagnosis or come up with their own. I think its worth giving creedence to, because, even though it is a more serious diagnosis, it might help explain why 8+ years of previous therapies (aimed at the bipolar) did not work....
Anyway, it creates an interesting situation. In his transition back to a new therapist at the Community Mental Health Center, will they pay attention to his current diagnosis or come up with their own. I think its worth giving creedence to, because, even though it is a more serious diagnosis, it might help explain why 8+ years of previous therapies (aimed at the bipolar) did not work....