Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

DEFINITION

• Rare childhood disorder of social functioning marked by culturally inappropriate, overly familiar behavior toward unfamiliar adults. Typically, it occurs in a child who has experienced profound neglect (e.g., institutional upbringing, frequent foster care changes)
• Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) is classified under the Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)[1]. This is a new diagnosis in DSM-5, previously considered a subtype of reactive attachment disorder.