The effect of foster carer training on the emotional and behavioural functioning of looked after children. My interest in attachment disorders began with a cluster analysis examining the diagnostic boundaries of these disorders and the development of a screening questionnaire. This was used in a randomised controlled trial of a training programme for foster carers which showed measurable, though non-significant, improvements in attachment disorder symptoms. There has been a dearth of research into these disorders since their first inclusion in the psychiatric classification systems in 1992. I am currently planning an epidemiological study to determine prevalence in the community of these fascinating disorders.
Attachment disorders are a major challenge to child psychiatry as there are no known treatments.
Sufferers are usually children who have experienced neglect and abuse to a degree which has resulted in them being taken into care, but the disorders are a major impediment to forging new relationships and placements often break down. I am planning a pilot study, hopefully followed by a major randomised controlled trial, of attachment therapy, which is aimed specifically at treating attachment disorders. A fruitful collaboration with a local artist, Kate Robinson and the Department of Computer Science has resulted in two projects to develop and test multimedia tools for assessment in child psychiatry.