Attachment styles and clinical correlates in people at ultra high risk for psychosis

Russo, Debra A., Stochl, Jan, Hodgekins, Joanne, Iglesias-Gonzalez, Maria, Chipps, Penny, Painter, Michelle, Jones, Peter B. and Perez, Jesus (2018) Attachment styles and clinical correlates in people at ultra high risk for psychosis. British Journal of Psychology, 109 (1). 45–62. ISSN 0007-1269

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Abstract

Evidence suggests that attachment styles may influence subclinical psychosisphenotypes (Schizotypy) and affective disorders, and may play a part in the association between psychosis and childhood adversity. However, the role of attachment in the initial stages of psychosis remains poorly understood. Our main aim was to describe and compare attachment styles in 60 individuals at ultra high risk for psychosis (UHR) and a matched sample of 60 healthy volunteers (HV). The HV had lower anxious and avoidant attachment scores than the UHR individuals (p < 0.001). Sixty-nine percent of the UHR group had morethan one DSM-IV diagnosis, mainly affective and anxiety disorders. The UHR group experienced more trauma (p < 0.001) and more mood and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001). Interestingly, in our UHR group, only schizotypy paranoia was correlated with insecure attachment. In the HV group depression, anxiety, schizotypy paranoia and social anxiety were correlated with insecure attachment. This difference and some discrepancies with previous studies involving UHR suggest that individuals at UHR may compose a heterogeneous group; some experience significant mood and/or anxiety symptoms that may not be explained by specific attachment styles. Nonetheless, measuring attachment in UHR individuals could help maximise therapeutic relationships to enhance recovery.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Mental Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2017 01:36
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 01:56
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/62983
DOI:	10.1111/bjop.12249

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