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The role of attachment style and depression in patients with hepatitis C

Sanjeev Sockalingam1, Diana Blank, Abdulqader Al Jarad

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Program in Medical Psychiatry, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. sanjeev.sockalingam@uhn.ca

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
|October 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Fearful attachment styles are linked to higher depression in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. While depression, fatigue, and pain interconnect, attachment style primarily impacts depressive symptoms in HCV management.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry and Psychology
  • Hepatology
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently presents with a triad of depression, pain, and fatigue.
  • Psychological and interpersonal factors are suspected to influence this symptom triad, but their precise role remains unclear.
  • Understanding these influences is crucial for comprehensive patient care in HCV management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between attachment styles and depressive and physical symptoms in patients with chronic HCV infection.
  • To identify specific attachment patterns associated with symptom burden in this population.
  • To explore the interplay between attachment, depression, fatigue, and physical symptoms in HCV.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study involving 99 HCV-infected patients over 18 months.
  • Assessment using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Fatigue Severity Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (physical symptoms), and Relationship Questionnaire (attachment style).
  • Statistical analysis included ANOVA to compare attachment styles and Pearson correlations to assess symptom associations.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 15% of patients exhibited a fearful attachment style.
  • Patients with a fearful attachment style reported significantly higher depressive symptoms compared to those with a secure attachment style (p=0.025).
  • No significant differences in physical or fatigue symptoms were found across attachment styles; however, depression scores correlated strongly with fatigue and physical symptoms (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • While depressive, physical, and fatigue symptoms are interconnected in HCV patients, only depressive symptoms appear significantly influenced by attachment style extremes.
  • Fearful attachment may identify HCV patients at higher risk for depression, potentially impacting their engagement in care and symptom management.
  • Screening for attachment and relationship styles could aid in identifying and supporting HCV-infected individuals vulnerable to depression.

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