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Attachment disorders versus more common problems in looked after and adopted children: comparing community and expert assessments

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Published online on

Abstract

Background Attachment disorders in adopted and fostered children may be overdiagnosed and could obscure more common disorders. Methods A case note review of 100 referrals to a specialist adoption and fostering service compared community referrals with the specialist assessments of attachment disorders. Results Attachment disorders were identified four times more often in community referrals versus the specialist service, but this only partly explained the significant under‐identification of more common disorders in the community, especially for neurodevelopmental factors and conduct disorder by up to 10‐fold. Conclusions The relevant practice parameters are discussed and implications for service models for adopted and fostered children reviewed.