Aliança terapêutica, vinculação parental e sintomatologia de pacientes adultos que iniciam psicoterapia / Associations between therapeutic alliance, parental bonding and symptomatology in adult patients beginning psychotherapy / Allianza Terapéutica, vinculación parental y sintomatología del pacientes adultos que comienzan la psicoterapia

A aliança terapêutica (AT) é uma variável chave para o processo de mudança, sendo afetada por fatores do terapeuta e do paciente. Este estudo investigou a relação entre AT, vinculação parental e sintomatologia de pacientes em Psicoterapia Psicanalítica. Foram examinados 57 pacientes adultos entre a 4ª e a 5ª sessão de tratamento com medidas de avaliação da AT, da vinculação com os pais na infância e adolescência e de sintomas psicopatológicos. Associações positivas entre AT e cuidados da mãe e associações negativas entre AT e controle da mãe foram encontradas. Além disso, foram constatadas diferenças na AT entre os estilos parentais "cuidado ótimo" e "controle sem afeto" da mãe. Não houve associação entre AT e sintomas. Por outro lado, diversos sintomas mostraram associação positiva com o controle do pai. Os resultados indicam que a AT está relacionada com a história pregressa de vinculação do paciente e esta história tem relação com seu quadro clínico atual, evidenciando a complexidade dos processos que ocorrem na psicoterapia. (AU)

The Therapeutic Alliance (TA) is a key-variable for the process change, and it's affected by therapist's and patients' factors. This study investigated the relationship between TA, parental bonding and symptomatology in patients in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Fifty-seven adult participants were examined between the 4th and the 5th session of the treatment with assessments of TA, child and adolescence parental bonding and psychopathological symptoms. Positive associations between TA and "mother care" and negative associations between "mother overprotection" and TA were found. Also, significant differences were found in TA and the mother's parenting styles "optimal parenting" and "affectionless control". TA and symptoms were not associated. However, several symptoms had positive associations with father overprotection. Results indicate that TA is related with the parental bonding history and that this history is related with patients' current clinical condition, showing the complexity of the processes that occur in psychotherapy. (AU)

La Alianza Terapéutica (AT) es una variable clave para el proceso de cambio y es afectada por factores del terapeuta y del paciente. Este estudio examinó la relación entre la AT, la vinculación parental y la sintomatología en pacientes en psicoterapia psicoanalítica. Se examinaron cincuenta y siete participantes adultos entre la cuarta y la quinta sesión del tratamiento con instrumentos de evaluación de la alianza terapéutica, de la vinculación parental en la infancia y adolescencia, y de los síntomas psicopatológicos. Se encontraron asociaciones positivas entre la AT y el cuidado de la madre, y asociaciones negativas entre la AT e la protección de la madre. También se constató diferencias significativas en la AT y los estilos parentales de la madre "cuidado óptimo" y "control sin afecto". No hubo asociación entre AT y síntomas. Sin embargo, varios síntomas mostraran asociación positiva con el control del padre. Los resultados indican que la AT se relaciona con la historia anterior de vinculación del paciente y que esta historia tiene que ver con su cuadro clínico actual, mostrando la complejidad de los procesos que ocurren en la psicoterapia. (AU)

Disinhibited eating mediates differences in attachment insecurity between bariatric surgery candidates/recipients and lean controls.

Previous research has shown that attachment anxiety is a good predictor of body mass index. This relationship is significantly mediated by disinhibited (over-) eating and is likely to reflect a specific form of affect regulation. This study explored whether obese bariatric surgery candidates (BSC; N=34) and bariatric surgery recipients (BSR; N=15) would show higher levels of attachment insecurity (higher attachment anxiety and/or higher attachment avoidance) than a group of age and gender-matched lean controls (N=54). Mediation analyses showed that compared to lean controls (M=2.96, SE=0.1), both BSC (M=3.5, SE=0.2) and BSR (M=3.4, SE=0.2) groups had a more insecure attachment orientation. These relationships were significantly mediated by disinhibited eating (BSC: lower limit confidence interval (LLCI)=0.06 and upper limit confidence interval (ULCI)=0.62; BSR: LLCI=0.02 and ULCI=0.76). There was no such relationship when the BSC and BSR groups were compared (LLCI=-0.15 & ULCI=0.3). These observations suggest that attachment insecurity may be a risk factor for obesity and bariatric surgery because of associated disinhibited eating. Moreover, these factors may be important to consider when bariatric surgery results in poor outcomes.

[Stress-induced hyperalgesia (SIH) as a consequence of emotional deprivation and psychosocial traumatization in childhood : Implications for the treatment of chronic pain]. / Stressinduzierte Hyperalgesie (SIH) als Folge von emotionaler Deprivation und psychischer Traumatisierung in der Kindheit : Konsequenzen für die Schmerztherapie.

It is now widely recognized that in many chronic pain syndromes the intensity and severity of individually perceived pain does not correlate consistently with the degree of peripheral nervous system tissue damage or with the intensity of primary afferent or spinal nociceptive neurone activity. In particular, stress and anxiety exert modulatory influences on pain depending on the nature, duration and intensity of the stressor and developmental influences on the maturation of the stress as well as the pain system. In some chronic pain syndromes, e. g. fibromyalgia, TMD or somatoform disorders, no nociceptive or neuropathic input is detectable. We summarise the studies investigating the neural substrates and neurobiological mechanisms of stress-induced hyperalgesia (SIH) in animals and humans. The review provides new perspectives and challenges for the current and future treatment of chronic pain.

[Attachment style and cytokine levels in patients with fibromyalgia. A prospective longitudinal study]. / Bindungsstil und Zytokinspiegel bei Fibromyalgiesyndrom. Eine prospektive Longitudinalstudie.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between attachment style and subjective pain is controversially discussed and the influence of attachment styles on cytokine levels in chronic pain has received little attention in research. In this prospective longitudinal clinical study, we evaluated the relationship between cytokines, attachment style and subjective pain intensity as well as pain-related functioning in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) who underwent a 4-week multidisciplinary pain therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The attachment style was determined in 43 patients with FM using the relationship questionnaire (RQ-2) and subjective pain with the German version of the West Haven-Yale multidimensional pain inventory. Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were assessed before and after treatment and additionally once only in 18 healthy controls (Bio-Plex system). RESULTS: Patients with FM syndrome were significantly more often insecurely attached than healthy controls (p = 0.001). Serum levels of TNF-α (p = 0.001) and IL-10 (p = 0.039) were significantly higher in FM patients compared to controls. Attachment was unrelated to IL-4, IL-8, and IL-10 levels. Insecurely attached FM patients had significantly higher levels of TNF-α (p = 0.002). than securely attached patients. Insecurely and securely attached patients did not differ in subjective levels of pain severity, activity or functional interference. Cytokine levels were not correlated with subjective levels of pain severity or functional interference. Multidisciplinary pain therapy significantly reduced cytokine levels, pain severity, anxiety and depression independent of attachment style.

Coping style as a mediator between attachment and mental and physical health in patients suffering from morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: The presence of mental health problems and limitations in physical functioning is high in patients suffering from morbid obesity. The purpose of the current study was to examine the mediating role of coping style in the relationship between attachment representations and mental health and physical functioning in a morbidly obese population. METHOD: A total of 299 morbidly obese patients who were referred to the Slotervaart bariatric surgery unit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, completed self-report questionnaires assessing adult attachment style (Experiences in Close Relationship-Revised Questionnaire), coping style (Utrecht Coping List), and patients physical functioning and mental health (Short Form-36). RESULTS: Attachment anxiety (beta = -.490, p < .001) and attachment avoidance (3 = -.387, p < .001) were both found to be related to mental health. In addition, attachment anxiety was also found to be related to physical functioning (beta = - .188,p < .001). Coping style partly mediated these associations. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that coping mediates the association between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on the one hand and mental health and physical functioning in patients with morbid obesity on the other hand.

Screening symptoms of reactive attachment disorder: evidence for measurement invariance and convergent validity.

The Relationship Problems Questionnaire (RPQ) was developed to screen symptoms of the inhibited and disinhibited subtype of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). This study further examines the psychometric properties of the RPQ in children with severe emotional and behavioural problems by testing its measurement invariance across informants and its convergent validity. Parents and teachers of 152 children [mean age (Mage) = 7.92] from 20 schools for special education filled out the RPQ and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). During a home visit in a subsample of 77 children the Disturbances of Attachment Interview (DAI) was administered to the caregiver and the child was observed using an observational schedule for RAD. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed the expected two-factor structure for both parent and teacher RPQ. Configural and metric invariance, but no scalar invariance, were obtained across informants. Both RPQ-subscales had acceptable to good internal consistencies and correlated as expected with similar DAI-subscales. Furthermore, the disinhibited RPQ-scale related with observations of the child's approach to a stranger. Finally, significant associations were found between the RPQ and the SDQ. Overall, the RPQ has good psychometric qualities as a multi-informant instrument for RAD-symptoms in children with severe emotional and behavioural problems.

Adult attachment and early parental experiences in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease. The relationship of attachment to the illness is considered to be bidirectional. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated aspects of this bidirectional relationship. METHOD: A group of 102 patients with CD and 306 healthy subjects filled out the Attachment Style Questionnaire and the Parental Bonding Instrument. RESULTS: Patients with CD exhibit a predominantly insecure attachment and perceived their parents' behaviors as characterized by low maternal care and high paternal overprotection. DISCUSSION: The evaluation of attachment style and early parental experiences in patients with CD may shed light on the bidirectional relationship between attachment and illness. These findings may confirm the bidirectional relationship between insecure attachment and chronic illness.

[ADHD and attachment processes: are they related?]. / Trouble déficit de l'attention/hyperactivité (TDAH) : quels liens avec l'attachement ?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined on the basis of developmentally inappropriate inattention, motor activity and impulsivity that emerges early in development and causes impairment in social and academic functioning. ADHD is described as a multifactorial disease, with a well studied genetic vulnerability, and early environmental factors also playing an important role in the development and course of the disorder. Current aetiological models emphasize interaction between genes and environment. The concept of attachment, as proposed by John Bowlby, reflects quality of early interactions, and should therefore be considered as an early developmental factor. First, clinical findings emphasize similitude between both disorders; emotional dysregulation is an important feature in reactive attachment disorder as well as in ADHD. Emotion regulation is highly related to attachment security in young children and could play a part in the development of early attention processes. Moreover, difficult temperament is associated with higher risk for ADHD on the one hand, and can disturb the process of attachment on the other. Parental caregiving - including maternal sensitivity, positive parenting practices - is a main factor involved in the development of attachment, and has shown to be associated with better outcomes in ADHD children, especially with less oppositional/conduct disorders. Second, the aim of our review is to present clinical studies that have looked for a link between ADHD and attachment: the type of attachment could play a part in the course of the disorder: insecure and disorganised attachment types tend to be associated with a higher risk of externalised behaviors in children. For ADHD, this effect seems to be weaker than for other externalised disorders, and has been shown only in populations of at-risk children. Clinical studies also raise the question of possible links between reactive attachment disorder and ADHD. In children suffering severe early deprivon such as institution-rearing, inattention/hyperactivity symptoms were shown to be high, but these findings may not be valid in less severely deprived children. Third, another link could depend on a common vulnerability for ADHD and attachment disorder. Some perinatal factors, such as smoking during pregnancy or prematurity, have been shown to increase the risk of hyperactive symptoms in children. These variables may also be associated with a higher risk of impaired early interactions. Recent animal studies have raised interest in the role of prenatal stress in the emotional and behavioral development of the offspring, particularly as regards vulnerability to stress. Epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in durable alterations of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenergic axis. Preliminary findings in humans show that prenatal stress or maternal depression may also influence the development of the child. The understanding of the relationship between attachment and ADHD may help to better target prevention and intervention efforts. As the perinatal period seems to be particularly involved in both ADHD and attachment disorders, early guidance and possibly prenatal interventions should be developed and assessed for mothers and caregivers with risk-factors.

Screening for risk factors of relational withdrawal behaviour in infants aged 14-18 months.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of relational withdrawal behaviour in infants aged 14-18 months attending a public health centre in Paris, (2) to check some identified risk factors for relational withdrawal behaviour in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in infants aged 14-18 months attending a child health screening centre during the year 2005. RESULTS: A total of 640 children were included in the study. Thirteen percent of the 640 infants (n=83, 95% CI [10.4%; 15.6%]) had an ADBB score at 5 and over 5 on the ADBB. There was a clear relationship between withdrawal behavior and having psychological difficulties as reported by parents, and between withdrawal and developmental delay. Withdrawal was also significantly associated with being a boy, with living in risk conditions (e.g. child being in joint custody, or with living in a foster family), with being adopted, or with being a twin. More withdrawn infants were taken care of at home. CONCLUSION: Sustained relational withdrawal behaviour was linked with developmental disorders and psychopathology and not with SES, ethnical origin or rank of birth. The scale could be used in screening early psychopathology in infants aged 2-24 months of age.

[Risk assessment of neglect and maltreatment in infants and toddlers. Chances of early preventive intervention]. / Risikoeinschätzung bei Vernachlässigung und Kindeswohlgefährdung im Säuglings--und Kleinkindalter--Chancen früher beziehungsorientierter Diagnostik.

The German child protection system lacks of interdisciplinary and standardized procedures for screening and diagnosing child maltreatment as well as for service delivery. Evidence based assessments of risk-screening in combination with consensus-based models for risk-judgement seem to predict the best possible results. A central part of determining whether an infant is at risk is to evaluate various domains of parental competencies and skills. In particular assessment procedures based on attachment research have proven to be practically and methodologically relevant. These include interactive and video-based observational methods as well as parental representations as sources of information for risk assessment. Attachment based intervention and treatment programs are effective, especially with regard to enhancing paternal sensitive behavior. However, these programs need to be adapted to delivery for specific risk groups. Overall an interdisciplinary approach with regard to the programs as well as to the training of the professionals has to be taken into account.

[Parent-child-interaction based diagnostic in high risk families with infants and toddlers]. / Interaktionszentrierte Frühdiagnostik und bindungstheoretisch fundierte Frühintervention bei hoch belasteten Familien mit Säuglingen und Kleinkindern.

This article deals with methods and instruments used to identify high risk parents and early developing risks of infants and young children during the pre- and postnatal period in order to develop early intervention strategies based on early diagnosis in the context of parent-child-relationship. The specific experiences of our research approaches, funded by the German ministry of education and research (BMBF) from 2003 to 2007 at the University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam in cooperation with the parent counselling centre "Vom Säugling zum Kleinkind" are reflected. An interaction and communication focused strategy was developed to help to identify early development risks and resources in the parent-infant-relationship at the age of 0-3 years. After testing the diagnostical approach of this social-emotional development screening (SEE-0-3) in a current evaluation study on a high-risk-population, it was integrated as one module of early diagnosis into the early intervention program "STEEP--Steps toward effective and enjoyable parenting" which is based on the attachment theory. Using a concrete case it will first be discussed which kind of approaches to becoming parents with high risk factors can be developed on the basis of attachment reflecting acting and second which possibilities an interaction and video based concept could offer in the field of early diagnosis and intervention with families of infants and young children.

Level of prenatal cocaine exposure and infant-caregiver attachment behavior.

The objective of this longitudinal prospective cohort study was to determine whether level of prenatal cocaine exposure, or the interaction between level of prenatal cocaine exposure and contextual risk variables, was associated with a higher rate of infant-caregiver insecure attachment and disorganized attachment, or with alterations in infant crying or avoidant behavior, after controlling for prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, the quality of the proximal caregiving environment, and other covariates. Subjects were 154 full-term 12-month-old infants (64 unexposed, 61 with lighter cocaine exposure, 29 with heavier cocaine exposure) and their primary caregivers from low-income, urban backgrounds. Exposure status was determined in the maternity ward by biologic assay (infant meconium and/or maternal or infant urine) and maternal self-report. At the 12-month follow-up visit, infants were videotaped with their primary caregiver in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Reliable coders masked to exposure status scored videotapes for attachment variables, amount of crying, and level of avoidance. Contrary to popular perceptions, level of prenatal cocaine exposure was not significantly related to secure/insecure attachment status, disorganized attachment status, or rated level of felt security. Foster care status also was not associated with attachment status. However, heavier prenatal cocaine exposure, in interaction with maternal contextual variables (public assistance or multiparity) was associated with alterations in infant socio-affective behavior, including a higher level of behavioral disorganization, more avoidance of the caregiver, and less crying.