Understanding Attachment and Attachment Disorders

Vivien Prior is senior research fellow at the Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit at the Institute of Child Health, London. Danya Glaser is consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Department of Psychological Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.

Attachment theory is currently a hot topic, so it is essential for all psychology enthusiasts and clinicians to have at least some understanding of its theories and applications. However, most texts are complicated to grasp, with intricate theories enmeshed from multiple directions. This book changes that. Here the authors provide an easily digestible introduction to attachment of theory; assessments of attachment and care giving; the impact of attachment security; attachment disorders and treatments. What was of particular interest to me was the chapter on the theories' validity across cultures - a very relevant aspect considering the growing multicultural society of the UK. It draws on the research evidence to unite the more conclusive findings on attachment. This guides the clinician and student toward an understanding of this enlightening approach to explaining, in part, why we are to a large degree a product of our environment.

• 1. Introduction. Part One: Attachment and Caregiving. 2. What is Attachment? 3. The Classifications of Attachment. 4. What are the Factors Influencing Attachment Organisation (and Disorganisation)? 5. Affectional Bonds and Attachment Figures. 6. Is Attachment Theory Valid across Cultures? Part Two: Assessments of Attachment and Caregiving. 7. Introduction. 8. Assessments of Attachment. 9. Assessments of Caregiving. Part Three: Correlates of Attachment Organisation with Functioning. 10. Which Domains of Functioning are Hypothesised to be Correlated with Attachment and What are the Possible Pathways of its Influence? 11. Evidence for Correlations between Attachment Security/Insecurity and the Child's Functioning. Part Four: What is Attachment Disorder? 12. Two Versions of Attachment Disorder. 13. Research on Attachment Disorder. 14. The Nature of Attachment Disorder. Part Five: Attachment Theory-based Interventions (and Some that are Not). 15. Introduction. 16. Evidence-based Interventions: Enhancing Caregiver Sensitivity. 17. Evidence-based Interventions: Change of Caregiver. 18. Interventions with No Evidence Base. 19. Conclusions Regarding Interventions. References. Index. About FOCUS.Child and Adolescent Mental Health SeriesWritten for professionals, and parents, these accessible, evidence-based resources are essential reading for anyone seeking to understand and promote children and young people's mental health. Drawing on the work of FOCUS, a multidisciplinary project based at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research and Training Unit, each title in the series brings together practical and policy-level suggestions with up-to-the minute analysis of research.