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Related Experiment Videos

Attachment representation and illness behavior in somatoform disorders.

Elisabeth Waller1, Carl Eduard Scheidt, Armin Hartmann

  • 1Department of Psychosomatic and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|April 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Insecure attachment patterns are more common in individuals with somatoform disorders. This attachment style is linked to increased healthcare use and interpersonal difficulties in these patients.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Somatoform disorders are associated with high healthcare utilization.
  • Patient-provider interactions can be challenging in somatoform disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of insecure attachment patterns in somatoform disorders.
  • To examine the relationship between insecure attachment and healthcare utilization in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Adult Attachment Interview administered to 37 patients with somatoform disorders and 20 healthy controls.
  • Assessment of psychological symptoms and healthcare utilization via self-report measures.

Main Results:

  • Insecure attachment was significantly more prevalent in the somatoform disorder group compared to controls.

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  • Dismissing attachment was observed approximately twice as often as preoccupied attachment in the somatoform group.
  • A significant association was found between insecure attachment and healthcare utilization.

    • Conclusions:

    • Insecure attachment is a prominent feature of somatoform disorders.
    • Attachment patterns may influence interpersonal functioning and healthcare-seeking behaviors in patients with somatoform disorders.
    • Findings suggest attachment-based interventions could be beneficial for this patient group.