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Adult Attachment Style and Suicidality
Mario Miniati1, Antonio Callari, Stefano Pini
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy, mario.miniati@med.unipi.it.
Psychiatria Danubina
|September 27, 2017
Summary
Insecure attachment styles, particularly anxious ones, are linked to higher suicide risk. Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between attachment patterns and suicidal behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Adverse early attachment experiences can lead to adult attachment insecurities.
- Attachment insecurities are associated with pessimism, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and increased suicide risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on the association between adult attachment styles and suicidality.
- To identify gaps in current research regarding this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of the NCBI-MedLine/Pubmed database from 1992 to 2016.
- Used search terms including 'attachment', 'adult attachment style', 'suicidality', 'suicidal ideation', 'suicidal behavior', and 'suicide attempts'.
- Included only English-language studies.
Main Results:
- Insecure attachment styles, especially anxious attachment, are linked to elevated suicide risk.
- Unresolved trauma is also associated with increased suicide risk.
- Limited research exists on prospective clinical courses, comorbid disorders, familial suicidality, and psychosocial factors.
Conclusions:
- More research is required to elucidate the connection between attachment and suicidality.
- Suicidal ideation and attempts may stem from an interaction between psychiatric symptoms and persistent inadequate attachment patterns.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder may be key to understanding this link, and the role of oxytocin requires further investigation.
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