Attachment classification and early adversity predict perinatal partial hospital treatment response

Depression and anxiety are common in the perinatal period. While most of those affected respond well to treatment, a subpopulation is more resistant. Understanding more about individuals who do not respond well to available treatments may improve care for this group.

We administered entry and exit self-report measures to 178 women who participated in a specialized partial hospitalization program for perinatal individuals. Baseline measures of anxiety, obsessive symptoms, sleep quality, early life adversity, and adult attachment security were examined as potential predictors of response to treatment.

While no individual baseline survey predicted treatment response, clustering patients on the basis of a combination of self-report adult attachment styles and early life adversity yielded four distinct groups. A cluster with high attachment anxiety, high attachment avoidance, and childhood history of verbal and emotional abuse was less responsive to treatment than the other groups.

Combining detailed information about self-report adult attachment style and early life adversity may improve prediction of treatment response in individuals with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.