Association between Reactive Attachment and Personality Disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Association between Reactive attachment Disorder and emerging Personality Disorder: A Feasibility Pilot Study
IRAS ID
157430
Contact name
Gracia Dembo Mwimba
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Research summary
There is much concern about the transition between adolescent and adult mental health services. In this study, we wish to investigate possible overlap between Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)in adolescence, a disorder associated with childhood maltreatment and Emerging Personality Disorders, an interpersonal relationship difficulty in young adults. Children with RAD have complex neurodevelopmental problems, a core difficulty with relationships and often a history of severe neglect. Symptoms can include self-harm, sudden outbursts of aggression and making of intense relationship which then lead to rejection. There is, therefore, significant
symptomatic overlap with some personality disorders, particularly emotionally unstable: impulsive and borderline types.
Despite the high level of risk in this population there is very little rigorous research.
Hence, this study aims to determine the proportion of participants with emerging personality disorder among young people with RAD. It also aims to test the feasibility of recruiting and retaining young people with symptoms of RAD and/or
Borderline Personality Disorder, with a view to a future longitudinal study examining the transition between adolescence and early adulthood for these vulnerable young people.
We aim to recruit young people with indiscriminate friendliness from child and adolescent mental health services and from the Personality Disorders/Homeless Mental Health Team. We will use a range of measures of RAD and Personality Disorder to determine the proportion of emerging personality disorder among RAD and then we will compare this proportion with a comparable published one for significance.
The clinical relevance of the study is to look at the association between RAD and emerging personality disorder so as to inform clinical assessment and treatment, risk assessment and management, service planning, and a shared transition language to ensure clarity and continuity .REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
14/WS/1041
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion