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Cushing T, Robertson S, Mannes J, Marshall N, Carey MJ, Duschinsky R, Meiser-Stedman R. The relationship between attachment and posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:1055-1069. [PMID: 36999448 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between attachment and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) has been researched extensively within adult samples, with findings consistently demonstrating a relationship between insecure attachment and increased PTSS, and between secure attachment and decreased PTSS. To a lesser extent, such relationships have also been explored within child and adolescent samples. The evidence to date is equivocal and there have been no attempts to synthesize studies. This meta-analysis aimed to provide a quantitative synthesis of studies reporting a relationship between attachment orientation (on both developmental and social psychological measures) and PTSS within children and adolescents. A random effects model was used to pool 30 studies (N = 10,431) reporting exposure to a range of traumatic events including maltreatment and war trauma. Results demonstrate a negative correlation between secure attachment and PTSS (r = -.16) and a positive correlation between insecure attachment (r = .20), avoidant attachment (r = .20), anxious attachment (r = .32), and disorganized attachment (r = .17) and PTSS. These findings indicate a small but significant relationship between attachment and PTSS in children and adolescents. Exposure to maltreatment did not moderate the relationship between secure attachment and PTSS, though strengthened the relationship between insecure attachment and PTSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Cushing
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Sarah Robertson
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Julia Mannes
- Applied Social Sciences Group, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicole Marshall
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark James Carey
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Law, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Robbie Duschinsky
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard Meiser-Stedman
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Smakowski A, Hüsing P, Völcker S, Löwe B, Rosmalen JGM, Shedden-Mora M, Toussaint A. Psychological risk factors of somatic symptom disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. J Psychosom Res 2024; 181:111608. [PMID: 38365462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111608] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current diagnostic concepts of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) in DSM-5 and bodily distress disorder (BDD) in ICD-11 require certain psychological criteria, but researchers have called for further specification. Therefore, in a first step, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the current evidence on psychological factors associated with SSD/BDD and/or disorder-relevant clinical outcomes such as symptom severity and impairment. METHODS Psychological factors were systematically searched using Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Psycinfo via EBSCO. Studies providing original data in English or German, after 2009 were included. Cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies investigating at least one psychological factor in individuals with SSD/BDD in the context of disorder-relevant outcomes were included. RESULTS Forty-three eligible studies (n = 3760 patients) in SSD (none in BDD) provided data on at least one psychological factor, 37 in case-control format, 10 cross-sectional and 5 longitudinal. Meta-analyses of the case-control studies found patients with SSD to be more impaired by depression (SMD = 1.80), anxiety (SMD = 1.55), health anxiety (SMD = 1.31) and alexithymia (SMD = 1.39), compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal results are scarce, mixed, and require refining, individual studies suggest self-concept of bodily weakness, anxiety and depression to be predictive for persistent SSD and physical functioning. CONCLUSION This review provides a detailed overview of the current evidence of psychological factors in relation to SSD/BDD. Future studies on SSD and BDD should include under-studied psychological factors, such as negative affect, fear avoidance, or emotion regulation. More longitudinal studies are needed to assess the predictive value of these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Smakowski
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Paul Hüsing
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Völcker
- Medical School Hamburg, Department of Psychology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Löwe
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Judith G M Rosmalen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), Netherlands
| | - Meike Shedden-Mora
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany; Medical School Hamburg, Department of Psychology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Toussaint
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hamburg, Germany.
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Gander M, Buchheim A, Sevecke K. Personality Disorders and Attachment Trauma in Adolescent Patients with Psychiatric Disorders. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:457-471. [PMID: 37889355 PMCID: PMC10896792 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01141-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
This study examined how personality disorders (PD) differ with respect to gender, attachment status and traumatic childhood experiences in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. In particular, we investigated attachment-related traumatic material underlying adolescent PD. Our sample consisted of 175 inpatient adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (77% female, Mage = 15.13, SD = 1.35; 23% male, Mage =14.85, SD = 1.41). Thirty-nine patients (22%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for a PD according to the SCID-II PD: 51% avoidant, 13% obsessive-compulsive, 13% antisocial, 19% borderline, 2% paranoid and 2% histrionic. In the total sample, eighty-three (47%) of our inpatients were classified with an unresolved attachment status using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). We did not find any significant gender differences for patients with and without a PD. Our results revealed a higher percentage of unresolved attachment status in patients with a PD. The in-depth analysis of the total sample showed that patients with a PD demonstrated more traumatic material in their attachment interviews indicating a greater severity of attachment trauma. Furthermore, patients with a PD reported higher scores on emotional and physical neglect. Intervention strategies targeting traumatic attachment-related themes might be useful to treat adolescents with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Milserstrasse 10, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Tirol, Austria.
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Milserstrasse 10, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Tirol, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
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Hoheisel M, Popkirov S, Michaelis R, Rose M. Psychobehavioral B-Criteria of Somatic Symptom Disorder Are Associated with Somatic Symptom Reporting in a Large Sample of Psychosomatic Outpatients. Complex Psychiatry 2024; 10:10-18. [PMID: 38455259 PMCID: PMC10917430 DOI: 10.1159/000536668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) as introduced by the DSM-5 is characterized by chronic somatic symptoms not fully explained by underlying pathology and accompanied by psychological factors, the diagnostic B-criteria. These cognitive, affective, and behavioral disturbances are related to increased attention to somatic symptoms. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the association between the B-criteria and high symptom reporting in clinical settings. Methods This 12-year retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study examined 6,491 patients from a German psychosomatic outpatient center. The somatoform subscale of HEALTH-49 was used to evaluate somatic symptom reporting. Excessive health concerns and other potential criteria associated with symptom reporting were determined using the ICD-10-Symptom Rating and other HEALTH-49 subscales. Results Regression analysis revealed that the established B-criteria for SSD were the strongest factors associated with somatic symptom reporting, with a standardized beta-coefficient of β = 0.31 (R2 = 0.428, df = 24, F = 187.886). Other psychobehavioral factors were clearly less associated with somatic symptom reporting, such as depressive symptoms with β = 0.15 and impaired activity and participation with β = 0.12. Sociodemographic factors, such as age (β = 0.16) and gender (β = 0.12), were also independently associated with somatic symptom reporting. Conclusion This study provides evidence for the concept of SSD related to specific B-criteria associated with somatic symptom reporting, based on a large patient sample. These results point to an important role of psychological symptomatology in patients with somatic symptoms. The findings also suggest that additional factors contribute to the reporting of somatic symptoms. Our results may inform future diagnostic criteria for SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hoheisel
- Medical Department, Section of Psychosomatic Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stoyan Popkirov
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Rosa Michaelis
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Matthias Rose
- Medical Department, Section of Psychosomatic Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Gander M, Lenhart L, Steiger R, Buchheim A, Mangesius S, Birkl C, Haid-Stecher N, Fuchs M, Libal A, Dabkowska-Mika A, Gizewski ER, Sevecke K. Attachment Trauma Is Associated with White Matter Fiber Microstructural Alterations in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa before and after Exposure to Psychotherapeutic and Nutritional Treatment. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050798. [PMID: 37239270 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we explore the role of attachment for microstructural white matter (WM) changes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) before and after exposure to short-term and nutritional treatment. The case sample consisted of 22 female adolescent inpatients with AN (mean age: 15.2 ± 1.2 years) and the control sample were 18 gender-matched healthy adolescents (mean age: 16.8 ± 0.9 years). We performed a 3T MRI in the patient group during the acute state of AN and after weight restoration (duration: 2.6 ± 1 months) and compared the data to a healthy control group. To classify attachment patterns, we used the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System. In the patient sample, over 50% were classified with an attachment trauma/unresolved attachment status. Prior to treatment exposure, fractional anisotropy (FA) reductions and concordant mean diffusivity (MD) increases were evident in the fornix, the corpus callosum and WM regions of the thalamus, which normalized in the corpus callosum and the fornix post-therapy in the total patient sample (p < 0.002). In the acute state, patients with an attachment trauma demonstrated significant FA decreases compared to healthy controls, but no MD increases, in the corpus callosum and cingulum bilaterally, which remained decreased after therapy. Attachment patterns seem to be associated with region-specific changes of WM alterations in AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Institute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Lukas Lenhart
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ruth Steiger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stephanie Mangesius
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Birkl
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nina Haid-Stecher
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Martin Fuchs
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Anna Libal
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Dabkowska-Mika
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke Ruth Gizewski
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Kline CL, Shamshair S, Kullgren KA, Leber SM, Malas N. A Review of the Impact of Sociodemographic Factors on the Assessment and Management of Pediatric Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2023; 64:58-64. [PMID: 36328180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.10.266] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While factors such as race, sex, gender identity, and socioeconomic status impact the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions, there are few studies examining their influence on somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRDs), particularly in the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE In this review, we outline the existing literature on how sociodemographic characteristics influence the overall care of pediatric SSRDs. Throughout this literature review, we highlight opportunities for further research, including potential disparities in evaluation, management, and outcomes along several sociodemographic domains. METHODS We conducted a thorough review of the evidence for potential impact of race, sex, gender identity, and socioeconomic status on the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of pediatric somatization and SSRDs. RESULTS Recent studies evaluating the impact of race on SSRD care suggest the potential for provider bias in the evaluation and management of this population based on racial differences in diagnostic evaluations. Somatization may present differently based on a patient's race and potential cross-cultural status. Among studies of cisgender patients, there is evidence of provider bias in the assessment of somatic symptoms such that female patients are more likely to be diagnosed with an SSRD than male patients. However, there is little research among youth identifying as LGBTQ. The literature also indicates that low socioeconomic status and associated stressors are linked with the development of SSRDs, although it is unclear whether these factors are subject to bias by providers. CONCLUSIONS While the literature is sparse, there is evidence that sociodemographic factors contribute to differences in diagnosis, evaluation, and management of pediatric SSRDs. These factors, particularly race and sex, may also be subject to provider bias, although further studies are necessary. Provider bias can directly impact patients' perception of care, including feelings of dismissal, and may have downstream influences on symptom manifestation, patient-provider engagement, diagnostic evaluation, and management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saad Shamshair
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | - Nasuh Malas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Bizzi F, Locati F, Parolin L, Goetz Yael S, Brusadelli E. Advancement in the child attachment interview and the child and adolescent reflective functioning scale using a PDM-2 framework: case reports. RESEARCH IN PSYCHOTHERAPY: PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, PROCESS AND OUTCOME 2022; 25. [PMID: 35373961 PMCID: PMC9153759 DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2022.586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Child Attachment Interview (CAI) is a well-established semi-structured interview, widely used to identify attachment representations in middle childhood and adolescence. The application of the Child and Adolescent Reflective Functioning Scale (CRFS) to CAI narratives allows for an assessment of child mentalization, considered a strong predictor of attachment security. The 2nd edition of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2) includes CAI and CRFS as valid and reliable assessment measures in order to assess the dominion of the Mental Functioning axis. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the informative power of CAI and CRFS for the overall understanding of mental functioning and personality in a PDM-2 framework. The present report includes the discussion of two clinical cases of school-aged children in applying the Psychodiagnostic Chart-Second Edition (PDC-2) to the CAI transcript. The first case concerns a young male, aged 10, suffering from Oppositional-Provocative Disorder (externalizing disorder), while the second case concerns a young female, aged 15, suffering from Somatic Symptoms Disorder (internalizing disorder). PDC-2 for children and adolescents was used. Data from the scoring of CAI and CRFS were combined with a systematic evaluation of the qualitative contents emerging from CAI transcripts. A detailed analysis suggests that both the CAI and CRFS are useful attachment-oriented measures, able to explore child’s mental states, and together with the application of PDC-2 they provide an essential contribution in the understanding of developmental psychopathology. Implications of this innovative approach for clinical assessment, treatment design, and interventions are further discussed.
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Lenhart L, Gander M, Steiger R, Dabkowska‐Mika A, Mangesius S, Haid‐Stecher N, Fuchs M, Buchheim A, Sevecke K, Gizewski ER. Attachment status is associated with grey matter recovery in adolescent anorexia nervosa: Findings from a longitudinal study. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:1373-1387. [PMID: 35083790 PMCID: PMC9305298 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether grey matter (GM) reductions in acute anorexia nervosa (AN) are (i) valid for adolescents (age 14-18 years), (ii) reversible following short-term psychotherapeutic and nutritional therapy and (iii) depend on psychological components like attachment trauma. 3T MRI including a high-resolution T1 MPRAGE was performed in 22 female adolescents in the acute state of AN (age: 15.2 ± 1.2 years) and after weight restoration (duration: 2.6 ± 1 months, n = 18) and compared with 18 gender-matched healthy controls. The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System was used to classify resolved and unresolved attachment patterns. GM decreases were localized in extensive cortical areas including the insula, prefrontal and cingulate cortices as well as subcortical regions during acute AN, which partially increased after therapy with a relative sparing of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. The resolved group showed more GM recovery in regions of the left hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral cerebellar regions, right precuneus and adjacent cingulate cortices relative to the unresolved pattern. Structural anomalies in adolescent AN that recovered after treatment may be primarily the consequence of malnutrition, whereas several regions did not display significant recovery. Attachment status seems to influence region-specific GM recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Lenhart
- Department of RadiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Department of NeuroradiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Neuroimaging Research Core FacilityMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Manuela Gander
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryTirol KlinikenHall in TirolAustria
| | - Ruth Steiger
- Department of NeuroradiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Neuroimaging Research Core FacilityMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Angieszka Dabkowska‐Mika
- Department of NeuroradiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Neuroimaging Research Core FacilityMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Stephanie Mangesius
- Department of NeuroradiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Neuroimaging Research Core FacilityMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Nina Haid‐Stecher
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryTirol KlinikenHall in TirolAustria
| | - Martin Fuchs
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryTirol KlinikenHall in TirolAustria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of PsychologyUniversity of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Elke Ruth Gizewski
- Department of NeuroradiologyMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Neuroimaging Research Core FacilityMedical University of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
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Löwe B, Levenson J, Depping M, Hüsing P, Kohlmann S, Lehmann M, Shedden-Mora M, Toussaint A, Uhlenbusch N, Weigel A. Somatic symptom disorder: a scoping review on the empirical evidence of a new diagnosis. Psychol Med 2022; 52:632-648. [PMID: 34776017 PMCID: PMC8961337 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721004177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2013, the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This review aims to comprehensively synthesize contemporary evidence related to SSD. METHODS A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The main inclusion criteria were SSD and publication in the English language between 01/2009 and 05/2020. Systematic search terms also included subheadings for the DSM-5 text sections; i.e., diagnostic features, prevalence, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, culture, gender, suicide risk, functional consequences, differential diagnosis, and comorbidity. RESULTS Eight hundred and eighty-two articles were identified, of which 59 full texts were included for analysis. Empirical evidence supports the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of SSD diagnostic criteria, but the further specification of the psychological SSD B-criteria criteria seems necessary. General population studies using self-report questionnaires reported mean frequencies for SSD of 12.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.5-13.3%], while prevalence studies based on criterion standard interviews are lacking. SSD was associated with increased functional impairment, decreased quality of life, and high comorbidity with anxiety and depressive disorders. Relevant research gaps remain regarding developmental aspects, risk and prognostic factors, suicide risk as well as culture- and gender-associated issues. CONCLUSIONS Strengths of the SSD diagnosis are its good reliability, validity, and clinical utility, which substantially improved on its predecessors. SSD characterizes a specific patient population that is significantly impaired both physically and psychologically. However, substantial research gaps exist, e.g., regarding SSD prevalence assessed with criterion standard diagnostic interviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Löwe
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - James Levenson
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Miriam Depping
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul Hüsing
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kohlmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marco Lehmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Meike Shedden-Mora
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Toussaint
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Natalie Uhlenbusch
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Weigel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Gastelle M, Kerns KA. A Systematic Review of Representational and Behavioral Measures of Parent-Child Attachment Available for Middle Childhood. Hum Dev 2021. [DOI: 10.1159/000521393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A variety of parent-child attachment measures, representing a range of conceptual approaches, have been adapted for use in middle childhood. A recent surge in studies using the new methods makes a comprehensive review of these measures timely. This systematic review of 67 studies covers representational and behavioral measures of parent-child attachment used with children 9-12 years old. This paper aims to evaluate parent-child attachment measurements with an emphasis on understanding their theoretical bases in addition to considering the available validity evidence. Findings identify several independently well-validated representational measures, and they highlight a continued need to investigate direct comparisons of the measures, as very little research has considered how the measures relate to each other, both conceptually and empirically. Behavioral measures of attachment in middle childhood, which are relatively new, are identified as potentially important in developing a better understanding of attachment measurement in this age group.
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Bizzi F, Riva A, Charpentier Mora S, Cavanna D, Nacinovich R. Attachment representation to caregivers and mentalizing ability in early adolescents with primary headache. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 28:862-871. [PMID: 33340182 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Primary headache (PH) is a common somatic disorder in childhood with a strong impact in terms of quality of life. There are several risk factors related to the development of this disorder including environmental factors as attachment bonds. However, studies in this direction are relatively few and have often used self-report or semi-projective measures looking at the only maternal attachment. Moreover, several studies have shown a link between somatoform pains and mentalizing abilities, but the relation between mentalizing and PH in childhood is unexplored. Therefore, this study aims at exploring attachment bonds, focusing on both maternal and paternal representations and mentalizing abilities in early adolescents with and without PH within a cross-sectional case-controlled design. A sample of 94 early adolescents aged 10-14 years (47 with PH and 47 without PH as a comparison group) completed the Child Attachment Interview to assess attachment representations to caregivers. Mentalizing abilities were assessed applying to the interviews in the Child and Adolescent Reflective Functioning Scale. PH adolescents showed a greater percentage of insecure-preoccupied attachment to both parents, with higher level of preoccupied anger especially to father than the comparison group (p values from 0.000 to 0.014, effect size values from.31 to.45), while no differences emerged about mentalizing (p values from.264 to 0.312). The over-representation of insecure-preoccupied attachment to both parents suggests a key role of parent-child interaction in early adolescents with PH, while the role of mentalizing abilities remains controversial and further studies are needed to address this issue. Clinical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Bizzi
- Department of Educational Science, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Riva
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, San Gerardo Hospital-Monza, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Donatella Cavanna
- Department of Educational Science, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Renata Nacinovich
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, San Gerardo Hospital-Monza, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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12
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Gander M, Buchheim A, Bock A, Steppan M, Sevecke K, Goth K. Unresolved Attachment Mediates the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Impaired Personality Functioning in Adolescence. J Pers Disord 2020; 34:84-103. [PMID: 31990614 DOI: 10.1521/pedi_2020_34_468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigates the mediating effect of attachment trauma on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and personality functioning in 199 adolescents (12-18 years) using a novel approach of an in-depth analysis of attachment-related traumatic contents during an attachment interview (AAP). Our findings demonstrate that adolescents with a high amount of traumatic attachment-related material show a lower resilience when facing traumatic childhood experiences, resulting in a greater severity of personality dysfunction. In particular, the associations between emotional abuse and neglect and the domains of identity, empathy, self-direction, and intimacy were mediated by the severity of attachment trauma. These results advance our understanding of the different nuances of attachment-related traumatic material and how they might shape personality structure in an adolescent age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.,Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Tirol Kliniken, Austria
| | - Astrid Bock
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Steppan
- Institute of Psychology, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kirstin Goth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland
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13
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Bizzi F, Shmueli-Goetz Y, Castellano R, San Martini P, Cavanna D. Psychometric Properties of the Child Attachment Interview in Italian Context: A Focus on Normative and Specific Clinical Groups in School-Aged Children. Psychol Rep 2020; 124:382-410. [PMID: 32056493 DOI: 10.1177/0033294120905515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
While attachment assessments developed for infancy and adulthood are well established, no such gold standard measure exists for school years, where measures are not yet sufficiently robust. Nevertheless, the last decade has witnessed some progress in this field with the development of the Child Attachment Interview (CAI), a semistructured interview designed to access children's mental representations of their attachment relationships. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the CAI for an Italian population, using a normative group and a clinical group of disruptive behavior disorder and somatic symptom disorder patients. A total sample of 311 Italian children (213 normative and 98 clinical) aged 8 to 15 years completed a battery of measures assessing attachment, verbal IQ, and symptomatology. The psychometric properties of the CAI alongside other children (Kerns Security Scale, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) and parents (Adult Attachment Interview) attachment measures in normative sample, as well as the distribution of attachment patterns in normative and clinical samples, were examined. The results revealed the CAI to have adequate interrater and test-retest reliability, as well as discriminant, and convergent validity. Significant differences in the CAI's distribution of attachment patterns for normative and specific clinical groups were found. Taken together, the findings show that the CAI Italian version is a reliable and valid measure for assessing attachment in school years and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Bizzi
- Department of Educational Science, 9302University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Yael Shmueli-Goetz
- 4785Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK
| | | | - Pietro San Martini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, 9311University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
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14
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Attachment and reflective functioning in children with somatic symptom disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019; 28:705-717. [PMID: 30350093 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-018-1238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our goal in conducting this study was to examine whether children with somatic symptom disorders (SSD) and disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) have higher rates of insecure or disorganized attachment and difficulties in mentalizing (operationalized as reflective functioning) as compared to a control group. Participants were 131 children (8-15 years) spanning two groups-a clinical group (n = 85), comprised of children fitting the criteria of our target diagnostic classifications (SSD: N = 45; DBD: N = 40), as well as a comparison group of healthy control children (n = 46). Children completed the Child Attachment Interview, which was later coded by reliable raters for attachment security and reflective functioning (RF). Consistent with our predictions, children in the clinical group had significantly lower RF and were significantly more likely to have insecure (over 80%) and disorganized attachment (over 40%) than children in the comparison group. In addition, RF was significantly lower in children with DBD than children with SSD. Furthermore, in the SSD group, children's RF regarding self was significantly lower than RF regarding others. Finally, consistent with prior studies, RF and attachment were associated. The findings indicate that school-aged children with SSD and DBD have higher rates of insecure and disorganized attachment. Consistent with theory, RF and attachment were loosely coupled, but RF alone differentiated among the diagnostic subgroups. Implications for treatment and prevention are discussed.
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Gander M, Diamond D, Buchheim A, Sevecke K. Use of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System in the formulation of a case of an adolescent refugee with PTSD. J Trauma Dissociation 2018; 19:572-595. [PMID: 29547072 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2018.1451803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Forced displacements and their psychosocial consequences in adolescent refugees and their families have received increasing attention in recent years. Although supportive family relations play a key role in buffering the impact of traumatization in adolescents, parental ability to provide such is often subject to extreme pressure. Under conditions of forced dislocation and fear, maladaptive interpersonal strategies in the parent-child relationships may develop, contributing to the onset of psychopathology. We explore new aspects of attachment-related issues for the understanding and treatment of adolescent refugees who have experienced multiple traumas in their childhood. We used a multimethod assessment battery including the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP), the Structured Clinical Interview, the Youth Self Report and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale in an adolescent boy with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our subject was an adolescent refugee from the Middle East who demonstrated an unresolved attachment when confronted with loss and fear. His responses on the AAP evoked aspects of insecure-unresolved attachment, including his belief that it is not safe to trust in attachment figures, his limited access to traumatic attachment experiences, his impaired ability to take concrete actions when dealing with threatening attachment situations and the unintentional role-reversal shed new light on our understanding of his traumatic experiences, family functioning and psychopathological symptoms. Our results demonstrate the utility of the AAP in an adolescent refugee with PTSD by expanding our knowledge of a diverse range of experiences across the interpersonal, cognitive, cultural and developmental contexts that formed the basis for an individualized treatment plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Diana Diamond
- b The Graduate Center , City College of the City University of New York , New York, USA
| | - Anna Buchheim
- c Institute of Psychology , University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
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Thorgaard MV, Frostholm L, Rask CU. Childhood and family factors in the development of health anxiety: A systematic review. CHILDRENS HEALTH CARE 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/02739615.2017.1318390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mette Viller Thorgaard
- The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Frostholm
- The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
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17
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Privizzini A. The Child Attachment Interview: A Narrative Review. Front Psychol 2017; 8:384. [PMID: 28352244 PMCID: PMC5348517 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Attachment theory promoted an impressive body of research on the psychic developmental processes, resulting in studies on both typical and atypical development. Much of the diffusion of the attachment theory in the clinical field was related to the design of reliable instruments to evaluate the organization of attachment in infancy as well as in adulthood. Until recently, the lack of a suitable instrument to assess attachment in middle childhood as well as in adolescence hindered the expansion of research in these developmental phases during which the parent-child relationship takes on a different, albeit still crucial, role. The Child Attachment Interview (CAI), a measure that was recently designed to assess attachment at a representational level in middle childhood and adolescence, filled the measurement gap. The aim of the current review was to summarize previous empirical investigations concerning CAI in order to (a) provide an overview of the state of current research, (b) identify unanswered questions, and (c) propose future research directions. A narrative review was conducted to map the current research findings by searching for the term “Child Attachment Interview” in the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsychINFO databases, followed by a search in Mendeley. Limits were set to exclude dissertations, chapters in books, and qualitative or theoretical papers, while empirical studies were included if they used the CAI and were published in English language, peer-reviewed journals by July, 2016. The review, which ultimately included 39 studies meeting the criteria, showed that the CAI is a reliable instrument to assess attachment organization in clinical and non-clinical samples, thus providing a worthwhile contribution to the investigation of the influence of the parent-child relationship beyond infancy and early childhood. Nevertheless, the review pointed out a number of relevant open issues, the most critical of which concerned the CAI coding and classification system. In particular, some relevant questions arose about (a) how opportune it would be to maintain a distinct classification for mother and father, (b) coding challenges regarding both the father and the Preoccupied and Disorganized classification, and finally (c) the advantage of a dimensional vs. a categorical approach.
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