ments to their caregivers range from disturbed to secure. 
Prevalence
The prevalence of disinhibited social attachment disorder is unknown. Nevertheless, the
disorder appears to be rare, occurring in a mi nority of children, even those who have been
severely neglected and subsequently placed in fo ster care or raised in institutions. In such
high-risk populations, the condition occurs in only about 20% of ch ildren. The condition is
seen rarely in other clinical settings. 
Development and Course
Conditions of social neglect are often present in the first months of life in children diag-
nosed with disinhibited social engagement di sorder, even before the disorder is diag-
nosed. However, there is no evidence that ne glect beginning after age 2 years is associated
with manifestations of the disorder. If ne glect occurs early and signs of the disorder
appear, clinical features of the disorder are moderately stable over time, particularly if
conditions of neglect pe rsist. Indiscriminate social behavior and lack of reticence with un-
familiar adults in toddlerhood are accompan ied by attention-seeking behaviors in pre-
schoolers. When the disorder persists into middle childhood, clinical features manifest as
verbal and physical overfamiliarity as well as  inauthentic expression of emotions. These
signs appear particularly apparent when the child interacts with adults. Peer relationships
are most affected in adolescence, with both  indiscriminate behavior and conflicts appar-
ent. The disorder has not been described in adults.