Updated on October 1, 2026 by John Ingham
“Adult attachment disorder” is not a formal DSM-5-TR diagnosis. Adults may experience attachment difficulties following childhood attachment disruption, including problems with trust, emotional regulation, and relationships. These difficulties are distinct from the childhood diagnoses of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED). Professional care can help adults address these difficulties and any co-occurring mental health conditions.
What Is an Attachment Disorder?
RAD and DSED are childhood disorders associated with severe insufficient caregiving. Adult relationship or attachment difficulties are broader experiences and do not by themselves establish either diagnosis.
These disorders are typically diagnosed in children who have had problems forming an emotional attachment with their parents or other caregivers. However, children who do not receive effective treatment for an attachment disorder may continue to struggle throughout their adolescence and adulthood.
Types of Attachment Disorders
The text revision of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), which is the standard reference book for clinicians in the United States, includes entries for two attachment disorders:
- Reactive attachment disorder (RAD): Characteristics of RAD include not seeking (or responding to) comfort when distressed, minimal responsiveness to others, limited positive affect, and episodes of unexplained sadness or fear. The DSM-5-TR reports that these symptoms should be evident before the individual has reached age 5.
- Disinhibited social engagement disorder: Symptoms of this disorder include exhibiting little to no hesitance about interacting with unfamiliar adults, behaving in an overly familiar manner, and failing to check back with caregivers, even in unfamiliar situations. As with RAD, disinhibited social engagement disorder is typically diagnosed at a very young age.
The DSM-5-TR also notes that both of these attachment disorders are related to traumatic or other highly stressful experiences, such as being neglected or failing to have one’s basic emotional needs met during early childhood.
Signs of Attachment Difficulties in Adults
Adults with attachment difficulties may experience the following. These signs are not a diagnostic checklist for RAD or DSED:
- Difficulty forming and maintaining relationships (including friendships and romantic partnerships)
- Having a hard time demonstrating or accepting affection
- Failure to recognize and respect personal boundaries
- Rigidity or other types of awkwardness in social situations
- Inability to express positive emotions
- Poor anger-management capabilities
- Distrust of others
- Impulsivity
The cumulative impact of these and similar symptoms – which can be exacerbated by the continued negative influence of untreated trauma – can cause adults to adopt the following dysfunctional attachment styles:
- Ambivalent: Also sometimes referred to as anxious attachment, this style is often dominated by jealousy, guilt, and a persistent need for reassurance. People who adopt this attachment style can appear to be “clingy” or overly obsessed with their partner. These characteristics can be similar to the behaviors of someone who has borderline personality disorder.
- Disorganized: Also similar to borderline personality disorder, the disorganized attachment style can involve dramatic changes in a person’s feelings toward their partner, swinging from intense love to disinterest or even hatred. People who develop the disorganized style may have a deep desire to be loved while simultaneously believing that they are unworthy of affection or compassion.
- Avoidant-dismissive: This maladaptive attachment style is characterized by a lack of meaningful attachments. People who adopt avoidant-dismissive style will be uncomfortable expressing their emotions. They may also appear to be disinterested in others’ feelings, which can cause them to be described as distant or cold. They will seem to value their independence above all else.
Distress associated with adult attachment difficulties has been associated with several additional problems, such as the following:
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social isolation
How Can Adults Address Attachment Difficulties?
Therapy can help adults address relationship difficulties, emotional regulation, and the effects of childhood attachment disruption. There is no single treatment path that fits every person. This is why it is so important to find a provider who can assess the full scope of your needs, then develop an individualized plan just for you.
Depending on a variety of personal factors, care for adult attachment difficulties may include services such as the following:
- Medication management for identified co-occurring conditions, when appropriate
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Educational sessions
- Trauma therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Treatment for adult attachment difficulties and any co-occurring mental health conditions may occur at either the inpatient or outpatient level. Inpatient care may be the best choice for someone who has been experiencing severe symptoms that have significantly impacted their ability to function. After completing an inpatient program, a patient may step down to outpatient care for additional support as they progress in their recovery.
Individuals who do not require 24/7 support may enter treatment directly at the outpatient level. Options at this level include partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs).
Contact Our Treatment Center for Attachment Difficulties in Los Angeles, CA
If your life has been negatively impacted by persistent attachment and relationship difficulties, Montare Behavioral Health is here to help. Our mental health treatment center in Los Angeles, California, offers personalized care and comprehensive support at several convenient locations.
At each of our facilities, you will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with a team of experienced and compassionate treatment professionals. At both the inpatient and outpatient levels, your care will feature an array of evidence-based services, customized according to your unique needs. As you approach the end of your treatment, we’ll also develop a detailed plan to guide your continued progress in the weeks and months to come.
The time you spend at Montare Behavioral Health may be relatively brief, but the care you receive here and the skills you develop are designed to yield lifelong benefits. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact Us page or call us today.