A review of attachment formation and disorder of handicapped children.

Research pertaining to attachment formation of handicapped children against a backdrop overview of the general attachment literature was examined. Attachment development and disorder of handicapped populations was reviewed categorically by handicap and by the procedures used to study attachment and analogous behavior with populations of handicapped children. In general, evidence to date suggests that attachment between young handicapped children and their mothers or caretakers may be delayed, dulled, or even absent. Some critical methodological issues were discussed, and implications of the study of attachment for developing theory, providing services, and understanding child abuse were delineated.