Hi Lady, You post a good question. After all, us parents do want to know that we are not jumping into some crazy band wagon out of desperation to help our kids. I read and researched RAD pretty extensively in making decisions on what to do for my son.
I think you might greatly enjoy a book by Robin Karen. It's called "Becoming Attached" (I hope - I have lost track of my bibliography). It's a bit techy, but basically outlines all the research behind attachment theories. I recall it detailing a lot about Bolby (40's or 50's), Ainsworth, (70's or 80's). The book probably only covers up till the 90's. But it was a big help to me in understanding the research being the development of the theories. I was able to get the book through inter-library loan.
Like Art mentioned, there are newer studies out now that actually look at the treatments based on the theories. It's a field that is still growing and developing, but it has come a long way. Also like Art mentioned, the attachment training builds from years of previous degree work. It's the decorations on the icing on the cake. It builds from the foundations already there. Obviously the more experience someone has, the more versed they will be. But a newer trained attachment therapist generally is able to mentor from their trainer for quite a while - the wonders of cyber space.
In a realted field - that of sensory integration. Likewise the training to treat a child with this disability is build upon the foundation of general OT training. My son just started back into SI therapy. He really has a rookie this time, and I mean a rookie. She graduated in Dec, has been training at the clinic, he is her first patient. He's only had 1 session with her and I was extremely impressed. Yes she may be learning as she goes, but her support network is just down the hall. and she obviously has a good foundation to work from.
Our story may be annecdotal, but pretty much correlates with the results of Arts soon to be published study. Check out the states on his site, the preliminary results are amazing. My son started briefly in traditional therapy, got sicker. Went to Theraplay and he got sicker. Then went to attachment therapy and finially he got better. He has been out of therapy for almost 2 years now and the rad is definately resolved. Yes he's more insecure than other kids, yes he's more sensitive - but he is not rad. He went from a violent and out of control 7 year old, to a pretty close to typical 10 year old.
Lady, not sure where you are at, but would encourage you to come to an AttaCh conference. They are awesome. It's the big think tank for work in attachment. This year it is in Pittsburgh, PA at the end of September. I'm sure you could find out more at
www.Attach.org.
DimasMom