Attachment problems and disorders in infants and young children: Identification, assessment, and intervention

Many infants and young children endure adverse experiences that place them at significant risk for later behavioral and mental health problems. The infant-caretaker relationship is considered pivotal for influencing emotional development and later personality. Thus, clinicians need to lie cognizant of the behavioral manifestations and risk factors associated with attachment problems and disorders among infants and young children. The article reviews recent literature on attachment, provides an overview of attachment theory. offers practical guidelines for identifying and assessing suspected attachment problems, and presents diagnostic and classification systems. Those interventions that appear to hold promise are reviewed. and guidelines for assessing the appropriateness of attachment interventions are suggested.