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Puckett J, Sood M, Newman-Taylor K. Does insecure attachment lead to psychosis via dissociation? A systematic review of the literature. Psychol Psychother 2024; 97:372-392. [PMID: 38358073 DOI: 10.1111/papt.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Insecure attachment may constitute a vulnerability factor for psychosis, and dissociation may be a key mechanism in the development of auditory hallucinations specifically. While there is good evidence for the role of these processes in isolation, it is unclear whether dissociation accounts for the association between insecure attachment and psychosis. This systematic review takes a theory-driven approach to examine proposed causal relationships across the clinical and nonclinical literature. METHODS We searched five databases (PubMeD, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ETHOS) for published and unpublished research examining attachment, dissociation and psychosis. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the quality of all included studies. RESULTS We identified 242 potential articles and included 13 in the final review (2096 participants). We found that (1) disorganised attachment was consistently associated with dissociation and inconsistently associated with voices and paranoia, (2) dissociation was associated with voices and paranoia, and these links were stronger in clinical samples, and (3) dissociation played a role in the impact of insecure attachment on voice hearing and paranoia in clinical groups. CONCLUSIONS This is the first review to synthesise the research examining attachment, dissociation, and psychosis. The evidence is consistent with proposed causal hypotheses and raises conceptual and measurement issues, for example, the need to clarify the relative contributions of different insecure attachment styles, and utilise behavioural/observational measures to strengthen study designs. Most importantly, we need experimental and longitudinal studies to confirm causal links and targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Puckett
- Psychology Department, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Monica Sood
- Psychology Department, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Katherine Newman-Taylor
- Psychology Department, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Psychology Department, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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Üçok A, Noyan H, Gülöksüz S, Saka MC, Alptekin K, Atbaşoğlu C, Akturan E, Karadayı G, Baran Tatar Z, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Ulaş H, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G, Cihan B, Soygür H, Şahin Cankurtaran E, Ulusoy Kaymak S, Rutten BPF, van Os J. The relationship between childhood trauma, psychotic symptoms, and cognitive schemas in patients with schizophrenia, their siblings, and healthy controls: results from the EU-GEI study. Psychol Med 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38606591 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between childhood trauma (CT) and psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), and subthreshold psychotic experiences in non-clinical populations is well-established. However, little is known about the relationship between subtypes of trauma and specific symptoms in patients, their siblings, and controls. It is also not clear which variables mediate the relationship between trauma and psychotic symptoms. METHODS Seven hundred and forty-two patients with SCZ, 718 of their unaffected siblings and 1039 controls from three EU-GEI sites were assessed for CT, symptom severity, and cognitive schemas about self/others. CT was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and cognitive schemas were assessed by The Brief Core Schema Scale. RESULTS Patients with psychosis were affected by CT more than their siblings and controls in all domains. Childhood emotional abuse and neglect were more common in siblings than controls. CT was related to negative cognitive schemas toward self/others in patients, siblings, and controls. We found that negative schemas about self-mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and thought withdrawal and thought broadcasting. Approximately 33.9% of the variance in these symptoms was explained by the mediator. It also mediated the relationship between sexual abuse and persecutory delusions in SCZ. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that childhood abuse and neglect are more common in patients with schizophrenia than their siblings and healthy controls, and have different impacts on clinical domains which we searched. The relationship between CT and positive symptoms seems to be mediated by negative cognitive schemas about self in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alp Üçok
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Handan Noyan
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Beykoz University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sinan Gülöksüz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Meram Can Saka
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
- Ankara University Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Köksal Alptekin
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cem Atbaşoğlu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
- Ankara University Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Elçin Akturan
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gülşah Karadayı
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Baran Tatar
- Department of Psychiatry, Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Akdede
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Tolga Binbay
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Vesile Altınyazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Halis Ulaş
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Berna Yalınçetin
- Department of Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Güvem Gümüş-Akay
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
- Ankara University Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Burçin Cihan
- Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Haldun Soygür
- Turkish Federation of Schizophrenia Associations, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okan University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | | | - Bart P F Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- King's College London, King's Health Partners, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
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Justo-Nunez M, Morris L, Berry K. The revised Psychosis Attachment Measure: further psychometric evidence. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024:10.1007/s00127-024-02624-2. [PMID: 38503876 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02624-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Disorganised attachment is a key concept in understanding the development of psychosis. However, existing questionnaires of adult attachment do not adequately measure this construct hindering future research into the psychosocial causes of psychosis. The most widely measure of adult attachment in people experiencing psychosis is the Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM). The measure has recently been revised to include disorganised attachment items. This study develops previous research by providing a rigorous examination the psychometric properties of the revised questionnaire (PAM-R). METHODS A total of 407 participants with self-reported experiences of psychosis completed a battery of questionnaires which included the PAM-R and other measures which were conceptually related to the concept of disorganised attachment. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated a three-factor solution with factors corresponding to anxious, avoidant, and disorganised attachment. The majority of the fit statistics were acceptable with the exception of the RMSEA statistic. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were good for all subscales. The disorganised subscale correlated in expected directions with other measures of attachment, dissociation, trauma, and psychotic experiences. CONCLUSION The PAM-R is a valid and reliable measure of adult attachment. It is a practical assessment tool for clinicians and researchers to measure insecure and disorganised attachment patterns that is acceptable to people experiencing psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Justo-Nunez
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Department of Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Manchester, M13 9PWL, UK
| | - Lydia Morris
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Department of Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Manchester, M13 9PWL, UK
| | - Katherine Berry
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Department of Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Manchester, M13 9PWL, UK.
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Grady S, Twomey C, Cullen C, Gaynor K. Does affect mediate the relationship between interpersonal trauma and psychosis? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophr Res 2024; 264:435-447. [PMID: 38245930 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The relationship between interpersonal trauma and psychosis is well established, and research is now focused on identifying mechanisms that may explain this relationship. Models of trauma and psychosis increasingly emphasize a broad range of affective processes, yet the overall effect of these affective processes is not well understood. AIM This review systematically examined the effect of any form of long-term affective dysfunction on the relationship between interpersonal trauma and psychosis. Where possible, it used meta-analytic techniques to quantify the overall magnitude of this effect. METHOD Searches were conducted using PsychINFO, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases, and eligible studies were appraised for methodological quality. Narrative synthesis and meta-analytic methods were used to evaluate evidence. RESULTS Twenty-nine studies met criteria for inclusion. Five affective mediators were found; depression, anxiety, affective dysregulation, loneliness and attachment. Findings from both the narrative synthesis (n = 29) and meta-analysis (n = 8) indicated that, overall, affect is a small but significant mediator of the relationship between interpersonal trauma and psychosis (pooled Cohen's d = 0.178; pooled 95 % CI: 0.022-0.334). CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings support affective pathways to psychosis, though highlight the need for further research on broader affective mediators (loneliness, shame). The small effect size found in the meta-analysis also points to the potential importance of non-affective mediators. Clinically, these findings highlight the value of treatment modalities that attend to multiple mechanisms in the relationship between interpersonal trauma and psychosis. Future research should focus on the interplay and causal sequence between these mechanisms to further understand pathways between interpersonal trauma and psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley Grady
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Conal Twomey
- Dept. of Psychology, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Clare Cullen
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Keith Gaynor
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland; DETECT, Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland
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Lovric S, Klaric M, Lovric I, Camber R, Kresic Coric M, Kvesic J, Kajic-Selak A. Clinical characteristics of psychotic disorders in patients with childhood trauma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36733. [PMID: 38134067 PMCID: PMC10735130 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood trauma is an important predictor of psychotic disorders, with special emphasis on physical and sexual abuse. It influences the clinical picture and course of psychotic disorders. This study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar. The sample consisted of 135 participants, aged 18 to 65 years. The screening instrument to examine cognitive status was the short version of MMSE-2. Patients' background information was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire constructed for this study. To determine childhood trauma, the Child Abuse Experience Inventory was used to examine physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect and domestic violence. The positive and negative syndrome scale scale was used to evaluate the clinical profile of psychoticism, the SSI questionnaire was used to evaluate the severity of suicidality, and the functionality of the participants was evaluated using the WHODAS 2.0. Results indicate that a significant number of participants with psychotic disorders experienced childhood trauma, an important determinant of their illness. Participants who had witnessed abuse had more severe clinical presentations (earlier onset and longer duration of illness) and more pronounced psychotic symptomatology and a lower degree of functionality. Decreased functionality is associated with witnessing abuse and physical abuse. During the civil war, a significant percentage of the participants were in childhood and adolescent development (26.7%) and exposed to frequent emotional abuse and domestic violence. As 1 traumatic event in childhood makes a person more susceptible to more traumatic experiences during life. Childhood trauma is a serious and pervasive problem that has a significant impact on the development, course, and severity of the clinical presentation of psychotic disorders. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide continuous education to mental health workers, primarily psychiatrists, regarding childhood trauma so that treatment may be approached more systematically and a plan of therapeutic interventions may be more adequately designed, which would necessarily include psychosocial support in addition to pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjin Lovric
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Miro Klaric
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Ivona Lovric
- Department of Dermatology of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Renata Camber
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Martina Kresic Coric
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Josip Kvesic
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Anita Kajic-Selak
- Department of Psychiatry of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Georgiades A, Almuqrin A, Rubinic P, Mouhitzadeh K, Tognin S, Mechelli A. Psychosocial stress, interpersonal sensitivity, and social withdrawal in clinical high risk for psychosis: a systematic review. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:38. [PMID: 37330526 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00362-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Stress has repeatedly been implicated in the onset and exacerbation of positive symptoms of psychosis. Increasing interest is growing for the role of psychosocial stress in the development of psychosis symptoms in individuals at Clinical High Risk (CHR) for psychosis. A systematic review was therefore conducted to summarize the existing evidence base regarding psychosocial stress, interpersonal sensitivity, and social withdrawal in individuals at CHR for psychosis. An electronic search of Ovid (PsychINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and GLOBAL HEALTH) was conducted until February 2022. Studies that examined psychosocial stress in CHR were included. Twenty-nine studies were eligible for inclusion. Psychosocial stress, interpersonal sensitivity, and social withdrawal were higher in CHR individuals compared to healthy controls and there was some evidence of their association with positive symptoms of psychosis. Two types of psychosocial stressors were found to occur more frequently with CHR status, namely daily stressors, and early and recent trauma, while significant life events did not appear to be significant. Greater exposure to psychosocial stress, emotional abuse, and perceived discrimination significantly increased risk of transition to psychosis in CHR. No studies examined the role of interpersonal sensitivity on transition to psychosis in CHR. This systematic review provides evidence for the association of trauma, daily stressors, social withdrawal, and interpersonal sensitivity with CHR status. Further studies investigating the impact of psychosocial stress on psychosis symptom expression in individuals at CHR and its effects on transition to psychosis are therefore warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Georgiades
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.
- Brent Early Intervention Service, CNWL, NHS Foundation Trust, 27-29 Fairlight Avenue, London, NW10 8AL, UK.
| | - A Almuqrin
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - P Rubinic
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - K Mouhitzadeh
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - S Tognin
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - A Mechelli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
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Whittington D. Disorganized attachment in emerging adulthood: Measurement comparisons and relations to childhood maltreatment and emotion dysregulation. FAMILY PROCESS 2023. [PMID: 36740785 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
There is an abundance of research examining disorganized attachment in childhood. However, few researchers have worked to advance the study of disorganized attachment in the context of emerging adult romantic relationships. As such, consistent and clear measurement of this attachment dimension is lacking. In the current study, emerging adult college students (N = 318) completed two previously designed self-report measures for assessing adult disorganized attachment in the context of romantic relationships. The two scales were compared in a factor analytic framework to create a single cohesive measure of romantic disorganized attachment, which captures the unique features of disorganized attachment, including fear, distrust and suspicion of attachment figures, as well as odd and disoriented behaviors. The result was a 15-item measure, which showed good reliability and factorial validity, and was moderately related to existing measures of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Additionally, the new measure demonstrated good test-retest reliability in a follow-up (n = 52). Finally, path analysis was used to provide evidence that disorganized attachment mediates the relation of childhood maltreatment to difficulties in emotion regulation, above what is captured by anxious and avoidant attachment. The current findings suggest the revised measure is a reliable self-report measure of disorganized adult romantic attachment to be used to further the study of disorganized attachment in emerging adulthood.
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Ridenour JM, Hamm JA, Neal DW, Hillis JD, Gagen EC, Zalzala AB, Lysaker PH. Navigating an Impasse in the Psychotherapy for Psychosis. JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10879-022-09571-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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