ATTACHMENT DISORDERS IN INFANCY AND EARLY-CHILDHOOD - A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF DIAGNOSTIC-CRITERIA

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the reliab ility of differing sets of criteria for attachment disorders by using a retrospective case review. Method: Forty-eight consecutive clinical case summaries from an infant behavior clinic were reviewed by four ex perienced clinicians. Attachment disorders were coded as present or ab sent by using competing criteria and were scored by using a continuous scale of relationship functioning Results: The reliability of alterna tive criteria was acceptable, but the reliability of DSM-IV criteria i n diagnosing attachment disorders was marginal. Preliminary validity f or the criteria was demonstrated by the fact that more severe relation ship disturbances were seen in infants diagnosed with attachment disor ders than in infants diagnosed with other disorders. Conclusions: Stan dardized assessments of at-risk populations should be used to replicat e these preliminary results; revision of DSM-IV criteria may be necess ary to obtain adequate reliability for diagnosing attachment disorders .