This diagnosis is only made for children at least 9 months old, as this gives them time to develop individual attachments. The child must engage in an excessively familiar way with strangers, violating social, cultural norms.

New Mexico Highlands University

Diagnostic criteria for disinhibited social engagement disorder include:

A. A child intentionally approaches and engages adults they don’t know.

B. Behaviors in criteria A aren't just impulsive, but include socially 
disinhibited behavior.

C. The child receives inadequate care, limiting the child’s opportunity to form a stable bond with a primary caregiver.

D. Situations described in criterion C are assumed to cause symptoms stated in Criterion A. 

E. The child is at least 9 months old. 

[DSM-5-TR] Diagnostic Criteria of Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder 

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., Text revision). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

DSM-5-TR

The DSM-5-TR outlines a few specifiers to help specify the condition of Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder. The specifiers that may be applied to the diagnosis are as followed:

Specify if:
- Persistent

Specify current severity:
- Severe

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