Attachment Insecurity Predicts Punishment Sensitivity in Anorexia Nervosa

Charlotte Keating1, David J Castle, Richard Newton

  • 1*Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre (BPsyC), Faculty of Health, Art and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn; †Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne; ‡Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne; §Austin Health, Heidelberg; ∥The Melbourne Clinic, Melbourne; and ¶Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Summary

Women with anorexia nervosa (AN) show higher insecure attachment and punishment sensitivity. Anxious attachment independently predicts punishment sensitivity in AN, suggesting a target for treatment.

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